Safety of the Co-administration of Three Drugs for Trachoma and Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination

Infectious diseases such as trachoma and lymphatic filariasis are public health problems in regions of Africa and Asia. Elimination programs exist for the two diseases, and their treatment by different groups of health workers is both costly and inefficient.

Thus, a study evaluating the safety and feasibility of an integrated mass treatment of trachoma and lymphatic filariasis with azithromycin associated with albendazole and ivermectin was instituted in 4 villages of the region of Sikasso in Mali (West Africa) co endemic for lymphatic filariasis and trachoma.

It was an open label randomized clusters type on the assessment of the safety of the triple co administration of azithromycin, ivermectin and albendazole (experimental regimen) as compared to the administration of the co administration of albendazole plus ivermectin followed by the that of azithromycin a week later (current standard recommended regimen) within subjects of 5 to 65 years old, willing and able to swallow the study drugs.

Clinical evaluation of adverse events in all study participants was done on day 0, day 8, and day 15 after the treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Must have been residing in the village for at least three months;
• Must be 90 cm tall or more;
• Must be between 5 years and 65 years of age;
• Must not be pregnant;
• Must not be lactating.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects under 5 years of age or less than 90 cm in height;
• Subjects over 65 years of age;
• Subjects who cannot swallow tablets;
• Subjects who are sick and bedridden;
• Pregnant women (clinical appreciation in the study);
• Lactating women;
• History of allergies to the drugs being studied (azithromycin, ivermectin, albendazole).