Abstract
.A cluster-randomized clinical trial showed that biannual single-dose azithromycin reduced mortality in preschool children; we sought to determine the effect on anemia. A simple random sample of 30 communities from Kilosa district, Tanzania, were themselves randomized to receive either 6-monthly treatment of children aged 1–59 months with single-dose azithromycin or placebo. From each community, 40 preschool children were randomly selected at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. At surveys, the children underwent hemoglobin testing; WHO definitions for anemia were applied. After adjusting for community clustering, the prevalence of anemia was not significantly different by treatment assignment at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. In each of the cross-sectional surveys, anemia prevalence was associated with younger age; the odds of being anemic was highest in those aged < 12 months. There was also a general decrease in the prevalence of anemia during the study. Although azithromycin was not shown to affect anemia, significantly, the study highlights burden of anemia in rural, African communities.
Highlights
Anemia refers to a diverse group of disorders characterized by the shared inability to meet oxygen demand on the basis of insufficient red cell mass or impaired function.[1]
The Macrolides Oraux pour Reduire les Deces avec un Oeil sur la Resistance (MORDOR) study, a multinational cluster randomized clinical trial, found that biannual administration of single-dose azithromycin to preschool children reduced allcause mortality compared with placebo.[8]
E-mail: ebloch2@jhmi.edu and infectious disease,[15] we hypothesized that azithromycin could—indirectly—impact the prevalence of anemia through mitigation of infectious burden in a rural, population of children of low socioeconomic status
Summary
Anemia refers to a diverse group of disorders characterized by the shared inability to meet oxygen demand on the basis of insufficient red cell mass or impaired function.[1]. E-mail: ebloch2@jhmi.edu and infectious disease,[15] we hypothesized that azithromycin could—indirectly—impact the prevalence of anemia through mitigation of infectious burden in a rural, population of children of low socioeconomic status.
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