| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1002.77 KB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Preventive chemotherapy campaigns with praziquantel and albendazole are being implemented in Angola, as a high-priority public health intervention. However, there are no published data regarding adverse events associated with these medications. In this context, we analyzed adverse events due to co-administration of praziquantel and albendazole in endemic areas of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in Bengo, Angola. In the context of a targeted drug administration, between December 2012 and September 2013, we conducted two surveys after co-administrating single oral doses of praziquantel and albendazole tablets to children 2 to 15 years of age. About 24 hours after each treatment, participants answered a questionnaire about adverse events. At baseline, 605 children (55.0% male; mean age: 9.7 years) were treated; 460 were interviewed and 257 (55.9%) reported at least one adverse event, 62.3% (160/257) of children being infected with Schistosoma haematobium. After six months of treatment, among 339 children surveyed, 184 (54.3%) reported adverse events, with 49.5% (91/184) of infected children. Adverse events were most common in preschool-aged children, with no significant difference between genders. The most frequent adverse events in the two surveys were abdominal pain (18.5%, 25.7%), headache (20.9%, 23.0%) and dizziness (15.7%, 19.8%). Children aged 12 to 15 years (adjusted OR = 0.40, p = 0.040) and those with mixed infection (adjusted OR = 0.04, p = 0.011) had lower odds of adverse events. After the second treatment, those with heavy infection (adjusted OR = 2.72, p = 0.018) and aged 9-11 years (adjusted OR = 2.01, p = 0.049) had significantly fewer adverse events. About 2.0% of children experienced severe adverse events. This study adds evidence that preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths control is safe, but cases of adverse events are expected. Standardized methodologies to discriminate drug-related adverse events from the clinical manifestations of the infections are needed.
Description
This work was supported by the promoters of the CISA as follows: Camões, Institute of Cooperation and Language, Portugal (www.instituto-camoes.pt/en/); Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal (https://
gulbenkian.pt/en/); Government of Bengo Province; Angolan Ministry of Health (www.minsa.gov.ao).
Keywords
Schistosomiasis Parasitic disease Abdominal pain Soil-transmitted helminthiasis Chemotherapy Children Vertigo Headache Adverse effects Angola Província do Bengo
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Lemos M, Pedro JM, Fançony C, Moura S, Brito M, Nery SV, et al. Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis preventive chemotherapy: adverse events in children from 2 to 15 years in Bengo province, Angola. PLoS ONE. 2020;15(3):e0229247.
Publisher
PLOS