Delayed iron improves iron status without altering malaria risk in severe malarial anemia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

WHO guidelines recommend concurrent iron and antimalarial treatment in children with malaria and iron deficiency, but iron may not be well absorbed or utilized during a malaria episode.

Objectives

We aimed to determine whether starting iron 28 d after antimalarial treatment in children with severe malaria and iron deficiency would improve iron status and lower malaria risk.

Methods

We conducted a randomized clinical trial on the effect of immediate compared with delayed iron treatment in Ugandan children 18 mo-5 y of age with 2 forms of severe malaria: cerebral malaria (CM; n = 79) or severe malarial anemia (SMA; n = 77). Asymptomatic community children (CC; n = 83) were enrolled as a comparison group. Children with iron deficiency, defined as zinc protopor

SUBMITTER: Cusick SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7198296 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature