Impact of intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment on the growth and nutritional status of preschool children in rural Senegal (West africa)

2007

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000249312200002

Ntab Balthazar, Cissé Badara, Boulanger Denis, Sokhna Cheikh, Targett G., Lines J., Alexander N., Trape Jean-François, Simondon François, Greenwood B. M., Simondon Kirsten

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2007, 77 (3), p. 411-417 ISSN 0002-9637

Negative consequences of malaria might account for seasonality in nutritional status in children in the Sahel. We report the impact of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-con trolled trial of seasonal intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment on growth and nutritional status in 1,063 Senegalese preschool children. A combination of artesunate and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was given monthly from September to November. In the intervention arm, mean weight gain was significantly greater (122.9 +/- 340 versus 42.9 +/- 344 [SD] g/mo, P < 0.0001) and losses in triceps and subscapular skinfold measurements were less (-0.39 +/- 1.01 versus -0.66 +/- 1.01 mm/mo, and -0.15 +/- 0.64 versus -0.36 +/- 0.62 mm/mo, respectively, P < 0.0001 for both). There was no difference in height increments. The prevalence of wasting increased significantly in the control arm (4.6% before versus 9.5% after, P < 0.0001), but remained constant in intervention children: 5.6% versus 7.0% (P = 0.62). The prevention of malaria would improve child nutritional status in areas with seasonal transmission.

Entomologie médicale / Parasitologie / Virologie [052] ; Nutrition, alimentation [054]

Fonds IRD [F B010040787]

fdi:010040787