Permethrin-treated bed nets (mosquito nets) prevent malaria in Gambian children.

Journal article

The incidence of clinical attacks of malaria was significantly less in Gambian children aged 1-9 years who slept in villages where all the bed nets (mosquito nets) were treated with permethrin than in children who slept in control villages with placebo-treated nets. Significant differences in changes in spleen size and in packed cell volume were also observed between the 2 groups during the course of a rainy season. No side effect was noted. Treatment of bed nets with insecticide is a form of malaria control that is well suited to community participation and can readily be incorporated into primary health care programmes. Insecticide-treated nets may be more effective in areas of seasonal or low intensity transmission than in areas with heavy perennial challenge.

Authors: Snow, R; Lindsay, S; Hayes, R; Greenwood, B

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Volume: 82
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 838-842
• Publication date: 1988-01-01
• DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(88)90011-9
• EISSN: 1878-3503
• ISSN: 0035-9203
• Language: English
• Keywords: Insecticides; Pyrethrins; Hematocrit; Culicidae; Spleen; Plasmodium falciparum; Infant; Malaria; Child; Permethrin; Animals; Humans; Female; Insect Control; Gambia; Child, Preschool; Bedding and Linens; Male