Antimalarial Drugs for Children After Hospitalization for Severe Anemia

In malaria-endemic areas of Africa, treating young children with 3 monthly doses of antimalarial drugs postdischarge reduced deaths and hospital readmissions.

Children hospitalized with severe anemia in malaria-endemic areas of Africa are at high risk for readmission and death within 6 months. Might the use of antimalarial drugs after discharge improve outcomes?

To find out, investigators conducted a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Kenya and Uganda. Children younger than 5 years who were hospitalized with severe anemia received routine anemia treatment including a 3-day course of antimalarials (artemether-lumefantrine) at discharge. At 2 weeks postdischarge, children were randomly assigned to receive 3-day malaria chemoprevention courses (dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine) at 2, 6, and 10 weeks or placebo. Drugs and placebo were supplied by Alfasigma.

Among 1049 study participants…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Antimalarial Drugs for Children After Hospitalization for Severe Anemia

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Reviewing Author