Height as proxy for weight in mass azithromycin dosing of Kenyan children with active trachoma
Date
2008Author
Rono, K.
Ilako, D.
Kollmann, M.
Karimurio, J.
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objectives: To determine whether height can be used as an alternative to
weight in mass treatment of children aged 1-15 years with active trachoma
using azithromycin and propose a height-based dose stick for Kenyan children.
Design: community based operational research
Subjects: A total of 2,020 children were included: 987(48.9%) male and 1033
(51.1%) female. 369 (18.3%) were from Kajiado, 772 (38.2%) from West Pokot
and 879 (43.5%) from Baringo.
Settings: The study was carried out in three trachoma endemic districts: West
Pokot, Baringo and Kajiado. A baseline trachoma survey had been conducted in
the three districts in preparation for the implementation of SAFE.
Results: Children from West Pokot were heavier and taller than those from
Kajiado and Baringo (P < 0.001). The body mass index (BMI) of the children in
the three study areas was comparable. There was a close relationship between
weight and height and the distribution was near linear. Height explained 92.8%
of the variance of weight. A height based dose stick that recommends the use
of 40mg/ml suspension and 125mg (half tablet) incremental dosage predicted
doses within tolerance limits (15-30mg/kg) to 98.8% of children and 100%
with extended dose range (13 -35 mg/kg). If 40mg/ml suspension and 1 tablet
(250mg) incremental dosage were to be used, the height stick would predict
doses within tolerance limits to 97.5% of the children and 99.9% with extended
dose range (13 -35 mg/kg).
Conclusions: The theoretical model based on the use of 40mg/ml suspension and
125mg (half tablet) incremental offers better dosing ranges to all the children
of West Pokot, Baringo and Kajiado districts when the extended dosage range
(13-35mgs/kg) is applied.
Recommendations: Similar studies should be conducted in other trachoma
endemic communities in Kenya to determine whether a single height-based
dose stick can be used in the entire country. The manufacturer should look into
the possibility of producing 125mg tablet for mass treatment.
Citation
East African Journal of Ophthalmology May 2008Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10378]