The data are inadequate to assess safety and efficacy of mass chemotherapy for taenia solium taeniasis

A. Clinton White, Seth O’neal, Andrea Winkler, Annette Abraham, Hélène Carabin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

As members of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines development group on chemotherapy strategies for the control of Taenia solium taeniasis, we are very disappointed at the systematic review by Haby and col-leagues. With respect to the analysis of efficacy, the authors did not account for differences in the methods used to ascertain the outcome in the studies analyzed. There are also major concerns regarding the safety analyses. Few of the included studies used carefully designed active surveillance protocols to detect epileptic seizures and/or chronic progres-sive headaches. These neurologic side effects, due the inadvertent killing of viable brain cysts, have been noted after mass therapy with praziquantel and albendazole. We whole-heartedly agree with the authors’ statement in their discussion that control programs apply-ing chemotherapy using mass drug administration “need to be informed by evidence of the best drug and dose in terms of efficacy and side-effects.” Unfortunately, the flawed analysis that was published is contrary to that goal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0008294
Pages (from-to)1-3
Number of pages3
JournalPLoS neglected tropical diseases
Volume14
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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