title: Persistence of lymphatic filarial infection in the paediatric population of rural community, after six rounds of annual mass drug administrations.
abstract: Under the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF), mass drug administration (MDA) is being implemented in Tamil Nadu, south India, by the State health machinery. The impact of six annual rounds of MDA using diethylcarbamazine (DEC) with and without albendazole (ALB) on filarial infection (microfilaraemia prevalence-MFP; antigenaemia prevalence-AGP) in paediatric population of 2-9 years was determined in two revenue blocks, with a population of 321 000. After each MDA, 300-400 children were screened for filarial infection. After six MDAs, an overall MFP reduction of 84.67% and 57.95% was observed in DEC+ALB and DEC alone arms, respectively. Corresponding AGP reductions were 72.88% (p < 0.001) and 41.51% (p = 0.023). Observation of microfilaraemic children after six MDAs (0.32% in DEC+ALB; 0.75% in DEC alone), necessitates the need for supplementary control strategies (viz., vector control), in order to achieve the goal of LF elimination.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No. 4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu state, India.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Sunish
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No. 4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu state, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munirathinam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No. 4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu state, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalimuthu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No. 4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu state, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ashok Kumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR), No. 4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 002, Tamil Nadu state, India crmeicmr@icmr.org.in bk_tyagi@sify.com.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tyagi
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D055118:Medication Adherence; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014958:Wuchereria bancrofti / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D005369:Filaricides; D015766:Albendazole; D004049:Diethylcarbamazine
keywords: Tirukoilur; lymphatic filariasis; mass drug administration; paediatric; south India