2 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The purpose of this study is to evaluate, treat and follow patients with parasitic infections. People with a known or suspected parasitic infection who are at least 1 year old may be enrolled. This study does not involve any experimental treatments. Participants will have a physical examination and laboratory tests on blood, stool, or urine. Blood samples may be collected at regular intervals, but no more than 450 ml (15 ounces) of blood will be drawn from adults, and no more than 7 ml (1-1/2 teaspoons) per kg (2.2 pounds) of body weight from children, in any 6-week period. Other tests may include x-rays, electrocardiogram (EKG), or tissue biopsy (surgical removal of a small tissue sample), depending on the individual s condition. Patients may be offered treatment or may be referred to another study that is more appropriate for the problem. Any treatment provided in this study will be according to standard medical practice for the patient s specific medical problem. Patients responses to treatment will be evaluated at regularly scheduled clinic visits. The length of time between visits and the total duration of the study for a given individual will be determined by the study doctor, based on that person s medical condition. ...
The overarching goal of this project is the elimination of two neglected tropical diseases (NTD): soil-transmitted helminthiasis and rabies. The specific objective of this pilot study was: To determine whether the integrated delivery platform improved the cost-effectiveness and coverage of MDA targeting STH and rabies; The investigators integrated two public health initiatives: 1) a mass drug administration (MDA) effort to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTD) caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STH), with 2) a community-valued mass dog rabies vaccination (MDRV) intervention to eliminate human and animal rabies, also a priority NTD of the World Health Organisation. The goal of MDA efforts targeting STH is to reduce worm burdens to very low levels below which self-sustaining transmission, and the public health consequences of STH, cease. Existing school-based delivery programs fail to reach all affected age groups, however, which results in ineffective coverage levels and persistence of STH. The goal of MDRV is to immunize 70% of dog populations, after which canine-mediated rabies is eliminated. MDRV programs are typically very popular, with all human age groups participating. The objectives of this project were to determine whether supplementing a strictly school-based MDA NTD control program with a community-wide strategy that is coupled to an MDRV program will result in a synergism that (a) improves coverage, reach and cost-effective delivery of MDA targeting STH and (b) improves coverage and cost-effective delivery of dog vaccination. To achieve this, research activities, comprised of post-intervention household questionnaire surveys, were carried out. In addition detailed cost data was collected.