Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine Versus Weekly Chloroquine for Malaria Prevention in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia

Malaria is fatal and increases the risk of death among children with sickle cell anemia. Chemoprophylaxis significantly improves quality of life in these children. In Uganda Chloroquine is the drug of choice for prophylaxis and yet it's effectiveness is limited due to high levels of resistance throughout the country. Intermittent presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine a new approach to malaria prevention, has shown great potential in reducing incidence of malaria and anemia among high risk groups such as pregnant women and infants. However no studies have been done in Uganda to determine if presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine- pyrimethamine reduces incidence of malaria among high risk group such as children with sickle cell anaemia.

We calculated a sample size of 110 patients in each group for a power of 95% assuming that the incidence of malaria in children receiving weekly chloroquine will be 0.36 and those receiving presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine the incidence would be 0.16 according to (schellenberg et al )

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 6 months to 12 years attending sickle cell clinic in Mulago Hospital during the study period with a negative peripheral smear for parasites, adherence to appointment visits, consent by care takers to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with known allergy to sulfonamides, Patients with severe illnesses requiring urgent admission, Patients with documented treatment for malaria in the past one month with Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine. Patients on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis