Chemoprophylaxis and intermittent treatment for preventing malaria in children

摘要: Background Malaria causes repeated illness in children living endemic areas. Policies of giving antimalarial drugs at regular intervals (prophylaxis or intermittent treatment) are being considered for preschool children. Objectives To evaluate prophylaxis and treatment with to prevent malaria young malaria-endemic Search strategy We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register (August 2007), CENTRAL (The Library 2007, Issue 3), MEDLINE (1966 August EMBASE (1974 LILACS (1982 mRCT (February reference lists identified trials. also contacted researchers. Selection criteria Individually randomized cluster-randomized controlled trials comparing given placebo no drug aged one month six years less a area. Data collection analysis Two authors independently extracted data assessed methodological quality. used relative risk (RR) weighted mean difference 95% confidence (CI) meta-analyses. Where we detected heterogeneity it appropriate combine trials, random-effects model (REM). Main results Twenty-one (19,394 participants), including met inclusion criteria. Prophylaxis resulted fewer clinical episodes (RR 0.53, CI 0.38 0.74, REM; 7037 participants, 10 trials), severe anaemia 0.70, 0.52 0.94, 5445 9 hospital admissions any cause 0.64, 0.49 0.82; 3722 5 trials). did not detect number deaths from 0.90, 0.65 1.23; 7369 but do exclude potentially important difference. One trial reported three serious adverse events statistically significant between study groups (1070 participants). Eight measured morbidity mortality months two after stopping drugs; overall, there was difference, participant numbers were small. Authors' conclusions reduce