The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of two antimalarial drug regimes, namely amodiaquine versus amodiaquine-artesunate, in the treatment of children with uncomplicated malaria. Also, genetic host factors which might influence efficacy and/or safety will be examined.
Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Current malaria control largely consists of rapid treatment of patients. Amodiaquine-artesunate and other combinatory treatment regimes including amodiaquine are now being introduced as first-line antimalarial drugs in several African countries. However, data on the efficacy and safety of amodiaquine and amodiaquine-artesunate are scarce. In addition, there is evidence that common genetic host factors, e.g. sickle cell trait, may influence efficacy and safety of these drugs. To examine efficacy and safety of the named drugs as well as a potential influence of genetic host factors on these outcomes a randomized, double blind trial among 400 children with uncomplicated malaria is performed in northern Ghana.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
400
University for Development Studies
Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana
Parasitological and clinical cure rates by days 14 and 28
Parasite and fever clearance times
Carrier rates of sexual parasite stages at days 7, 14 and 28
Incidence rates of adverse events
Incidence rate of haematological and biochemical evidence of drug-induced toxicity
Primary endpoints in children with and without various genetic host factors
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