Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Children aged 8 days to 59 months were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to a single oral dose of azithromycin (20 mg/kg) or matching placebo. Children were evaluated for malaria via thin and thick smear and rapid diagnostic test (for those with tympanic temperature ≥ 37.5 °C) at baseline and 14 days and 6 months after treatment. Malaria outcomes in children receiving azithromycin versus placebo were compared at each follow-up timepoint separately. RESULTS: Of 450 children enrolled, 230 were randomized to azithromycin and 220 to placebo. Children were a median of 26 months and 51% were female, and 17% were positive for malaria parasitaemia at baseline. There was no evidence of a difference in malaria parasitaemia at 14 days or 6 months after treatment. In the azithromycin arm, 20% of children were positive for parasitaemia at 14 days compared to 17% in the placebo arm (P = 0.43) and 7.6% vs. 5.6% in the azithromycin compared to placebo arms at 6 months (P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS:
Azithromycin did not affect malaria outcomes in this study, possibly due to the individually randomized nature of the trial. Trial registration This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03676751; registered 19 September 2018).
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Authors | Boubacar Coulibaly, Ali Sié, Clarisse Dah, Mamadou Bountogo, Mamadou Ouattara, Adama Compaoré, Moustapha Nikiema, Jérôme Nankoné Tiansi, Nestor Dembélé Sibiri, Jessica M Brogdon, Elodie Lebas, Thuy Doan, Travis C Porco, Thomas M Lietman, Catherine E Oldenburg |
Journal | Malaria journal
(Malar J)
Vol. 20
Issue 1
Pg. 360
(Aug 31 2021)
ISSN: 1475-2875 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 34465327
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Copyright | © 2021. The Author(s). |
Chemical References |
- Antimalarials
- Azithromycin
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Topics |
- Administration, Oral
- Antimalarials
(administration & dosage)
- Azithromycin
(administration & dosage)
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Malaria
(drug therapy, parasitology)
- Male
- Parasitemia
(drug therapy, parasitology)
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