MedPath

Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine Versus Weekly Chloroquine for Malaria Prevention in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Sickle Cell Anemia
Malaria
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00399074
Lead Sponsor
Makerere University
Brief Summary

Malaria is fatal and increases the risk of death among children with sickle cell anemia. Chemoprophylaxis significantly improves quality of life in these children. In Uganda Chloroquine is the drug of choice for prophylaxis and yet it's effectiveness is limited due to high levels of resistance throughout the country. Intermittent presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine - Pyrimethamine a new approach to malaria prevention, has shown great potential in reducing incidence of malaria and anaemia among high risk groups such as pregnant women and infants. However no studies have been done in Uganda to determine if presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine- pyrimethamine reduces the incidence of malaria in children with sickle cell anaemia.

Hypothesis : Presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine is better than weekly chloroquine in reducing incidence of malaria in children with sickle cell anaemia.

Detailed Description

Malaria is fatal and increases the risk of death among children with sickle cell anemia. Chemoprophylaxis significantly improves quality of life in these children. In Uganda Chloroquine is the drug of choice for prophylaxis and yet it's effectiveness is limited due to high levels of resistance throughout the country. Intermittent presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine a new approach to malaria prevention, has shown great potential in reducing incidence of malaria and anemia among high risk groups such as pregnant women and infants. However no studies have been done in Uganda to determine if presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine- pyrimethamine reduces incidence of malaria among high risk group such as children with sickle cell anaemia.

We calculated a sample size of 110 patients in each group for a power of 95% assuming that the incidence of malaria in children receiving weekly chloroquine will be 0.36 and those receiving presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine the incidence would be 0.16 according to (schellenberg et al )

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
220
Inclusion Criteria
  • Children aged 6 months to 12 years attending sickle cell clinic in Mulago Hospital during the study period with a negative peripheral smear for parasites, adherence to appointment visits, consent by care takers to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with known allergy to sulfonamides, Patients with severe illnesses requiring urgent admission, Patients with documented treatment for malaria in the past one month with Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine. Patients on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethaminesulfadoxine pyrimethamineMonthly SP
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Malaria episodes4 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Malaria related admissions1 month
Adverse drug effects4 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mulago Hospital

🇺🇬

Kampala, Central, Uganda

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath