Antischistosomal Efficacy of Artemeter-Lumefantrine While Administered as Curative Treatments for Malaria Among Patient in Kemise Health Center, North Eastern Ethiopia
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Schistosomiasis stands next to malaria in terms of extent of endemic areas. The distributions of both malaria and schistosomiasis show a large geographical overlap in tropical and subtropical environments, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This part of the world currently harbours more than 85% of the estimated global burdens due to malaria and schistosomiasis. Cross–sectional surveys carried out in different ecoepidemiological settings of Africa revealed high frequencies of Plasmodium and Schistosoma infections. Both experimental and clinical studies showed that the Artemisinin based therapy for the treatment of malaria do also have antischistosomal efficacies.
Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate whether Artemether–Lumefantrine has antischistosomal efficacy when administered as curative treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Kemise, North Eastern Ethiopia.
Method: Malaria cases age above 5 years with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, who (or their guardians consented) to participate in the study after fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study for follow up period of day 28, 29 or 30. 152 microscopically on firmed P. falciparum malaria cases were enrolled who attended the Kemise Health Center. Stool samples were collected from these malaria patients and diagnosed for schistosomiasis using Kato–katz technique. Co-infected patients were treated with Artemether-Lumfantrine. The cure rate, egg reduction and prevalence of co-infection were
measured.
Result: Twenty eight of patients who fulfilled enrollment criteria completed follow up after treatment. The 28 co-infected patients were found stool-negative for Schistosoma eggs on day 28, 29 and 30. Twenty eight of the 152 (18.42%) were co-infected with S. mansoni. Cure rate and egg reduction rate were 100%.
Conclusion/Recommendation: Artemether-Lumefantrine was found to be highly efficacious (100%) for the treatment of S. mansoni and P. falciparum malaria co-infection. This study recommended a large scale study for better understanding of the efficacy of ArtemetherLumefantrine for treatment S. mansoni and P. falciparum co-infection.
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Keywords
Co-infection, Artemether-Lumefantrine, S. mansoni, P. falciparum, Kemise