Preventing Malaria in School Children to Protect the Whole Community in Rural Blantyre District, Malawi

Launched by LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE · Oct 9, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on preventing malaria, a serious disease, among school children in rural Blantyre District, Malawi. The study is testing different medications to see which one works best in reducing malaria infections and improving health, including anemia (a condition where you don't have enough healthy red blood cells) and cognitive function (how well children think and learn). There are three groups in the trial: one group will receive a specific medication called dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, another group will receive a combination of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine, and the third group will receive standard care without any preventive treatment.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be currently enrolled in the study school and plan to stay there for the school year. Parents or guardians need to provide consent for their children to participate. Children aged 6 to 59 months who live with these students and have been sleeping in the household for most nights can also take part. However, children with severe malaria symptoms or certain health issues, such as a history of serious heart problems or other specific conditions, will not be included. Participants can expect regular health checks and monitoring throughout the study, which aims to gather important information on how to better prevent malaria not just in children, but in the wider community as well.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Student Inclusion Criteria:
• • Currently enrolled in the study school
• • Plan to attend the study school for the remainder of the school year
• • Parent/guardian available to provide written informed consent
• Student Exclusion Criteria:
• • Current evidence of severe malaria or danger signs
• • Known adverse reaction to the study drugs
• • History of cardiac problems or fainting
• • Taking medications known to prolong QT
• • Family history of prolonged QT
• • History of epilepsy or psoriasis
• • Taking cotrimoxazole for long-term prophylaxis
• • Younger child Inclusion Criteria
• • Slept in the household for most nights in the last month
• • Age 6-59 months
• • Parent/guardian available to provide written informed consent
• • Younger child Exclusion Criteria
• • - Current evidence of severe malaria or danger signs