In a 'blind' trial on 50 male asymptomatic microfilaraemic subjects with Wuchereria bancrofti infection, the safety, tolerability and filaricidal efficacy of a single dose of albendazole (alb) 600 mg alone or in combination with ivermectin (iver) 400 micrograms/kg or diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) 6 mg/kg was compared with a single dose of the combination DEC 6 mg/kg and iver 400 micrograms/kg over a period of 15 months after treatment. All but one subject, with 67 microfilariae (mf)/mL, had pre-treatment counts > 100 mf/mL. All 4 treatments significantly reduced mf counts, but alb/iver was the most effective regimen for clearing mf from night blood: 9 of 13 subjects (69%) were amicrofilaraemic by membrane filtration 15 months after treatment compared to one of 12 (8%), 3 of 11 (27%), and 3 of 10 (30%) in the groups treated with alb, alb/DEC, and DEC/iver, respectively. Filarial antigen tests suggested that all 4 treatments had significant activity against adult W. bancrofti; alb/DEC had the greatest activity according to this test, with antigen levels decreasing by 77% 15 months after therapy. All 4 regimens were well tolerated and clinically safe, although mild, self-limited systemic reactions were observed in all treatment groups. These results suggest that alb/iver is a safe and effective single dose regimen for suppression of microfilaraemia in bancroftian filariasis that could be considered for control programmes. Additional benefits of this combination are its potent, broad spectrum activity against intestinal helminths and potential relative safety in areas of Africa where DEC cannot be used for filariasis control because of co-endemicity with onchocerciasis or loiasis.

Background In July 2006 Sri Lanka completed 5 rounds of annual mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) and albendazole as part of its national programme for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF). Albendazole is highly effective against soiltransmitted helminths (STH). This study was carried out to assess the effect of repeated annual MDA on STH infections in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, an area co-endemic for LF and STH. Methods Faecal samples were obtained (during August-September 2006), from grade 5 students in 17 schools in the Western Province that were included in a national survey of schoolchildren's health in 2003, and examined using the modified Kato-Katz technique. The prevalence and intensity of roundworm, whipworm and hookworm infections in 2003 and 2006 were compared. Results Faecal samples from 255 children were examined in 2003; 448 were examined in 2006. Roundworm prevalence was marginally lower in 2006 (4.0%) than in 2003 (4.7%), as was hookworm (0.2% vs 0.4%), whereas whipworm prevalence was higher (13.8% vs 9.4%). These differences as well as that between the geometric mean egg counts were not statistically significant. Compliance with MDA in 2006, as reported by the schoolchildren examined, was only 59%. Conclusions Four annual rounds of MDA with DEC and albendazole had virtually no effect on STH infections in the study area.

Background Atopic diseases in children are major public health problems around the world and the prevalence is increasing. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of atopic diseases in schoolchildren in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Methods Children attending grade 5 in 17 schools in the Western Province of Sri Lanka were recruited to the study. Data were collected using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, which was filled by the parent/guardian of the selected children. Results A total of 640 schoolchildren were recruited. Their mean age was 10 years (SD ± 0.5) and 55.9% of the study population was boys. Prevalence (95% CI) of asthma, rhinitis and eczema was 17% (13.7-20.3), 21.4% (17.8-25.1) and 5% (3.1-7.0) respectively, while 33.7% (29.6-37.9) had one or more diseases. Only the prevalence of allergic rhinitis showed a statistically significant difference between the two sexes, being more common in boys. Less than 30% of affected children's parents recognised that their child had either asthma or rhinitis, whereas a higher number of parents (54.2%) recognised that their child had eczema. Among children with asthma, 44.4% had rhinitis. Conclusions The prevalence of atopic diseases in schoolchildren in grade 5 in the Western Province of Sri Lanka is as common as in other countries in the south Asian region. Parental recognition of these conditions was not satisfactory.

Is there a link between the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and malignancies and the severity of COVID-19 within the BAME population?

No abstract