Presumptive treatment to reduce imported malaria among refugees from east Africa resettling in the United States

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Oct;85(4):612-5. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0132.

Abstract

During May 4, 2007-February 29, 2008, the United States resettled 6,159 refugees from Tanzania. Refugees received pre-departure antimalarial treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), partially supervised (three/six doses) artemether-lumefantrine (AL), or fully supervised AL. Thirty-nine malaria cases were detected. Disease incidence was 15.5/1,000 in the SP group and 3.2/1,000 in the partially supervised AL group (relative change = -79%, 95% confidence interval = -56% to -90%). Incidence was 1.3/1,000 refugees in the fully supervised AL group (relative change = -92% compared with SP group; 95% confidence interval = -66% to -98%). Among 39 cases, 28 (72%) were in refugees < 15 years of age. Time between arrival and symptom onset (median = 14 days, range = 3-46 days) did not differ by group. Thirty-two (82%) persons were hospitalized, 4 (10%) had severe manifestations, and 9 (27%) had parasitemias > 5% (range = < 0.1-18%). Pre-departure presumptive treatment with an effective drug is associated with decreased disease among refugees.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antimalarials / administration & dosage
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Artemether
  • Artemisinins / administration & dosage
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Combinations
  • Ethanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Fluorenes / administration & dosage
  • Fluorenes / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lumefantrine
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use*
  • Refugees*
  • Sulfadoxine / therapeutic use*
  • Tanzania / ethnology
  • United States

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Drug Combinations
  • Ethanolamines
  • Fluorenes
  • fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination
  • Sulfadoxine
  • Artemether
  • Lumefantrine
  • Pyrimethamine