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Antiparasitic drugs for paediatrics: systematic review, formulations, pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy and

Jennifer Keiser1, Katrin Ingram, Jürg Utzinger

  • 1Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. jennifer.keiser@unibas.ch

Parasitology
|February 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This review found that antiparasitic drugs, particularly antimalarials, have been studied in children, but more research is needed to ensure their safety and efficacy across all pediatric age groups and for various parasitic infections.

Area of Science:

  • Paediatric Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Children represent a vulnerable population disproportionately affected by parasitic diseases.
  • Drug efficacy and safety in pediatric populations are influenced by developmental changes.
  • There is a need to ensure antiparasitic drugs are adequately studied for pediatric use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the extent of research on antiparasitic drugs for pediatric applications.
  • To assess the available data on efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of these drugs in children.
  • To evaluate drug formulations and inform strategies for preventive chemotherapy in young children.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of clinical trials and pharmacokinetic studies from PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Trials.
  • Inclusion criteria focused on studies investigating efficacy, safety, and PK parameters of antiparasitic drugs in pediatric populations.
  • Data collection covered a period of 10 years and 8 months until August 2010.

Main Results:

  • 269 clinical trials and 17 PK studies met the inclusion criteria.
  • Antimalarial drugs were the most frequently studied class (82.6%).
  • Most trials were conducted in Africa, with children aged 2-11 years being the most studied group. Shortcomings in anthelminthic formulations were identified.

Conclusions:

  • While some antiparasitic drugs, notably antimalarials, have undergone pediatric investigation, significant gaps remain.
  • Further research, including risk-benefit analyses, is crucial before expanding preventive chemotherapy strategies to younger children.
  • Improved drug formulations and targeted research are necessary to optimize antiparasitic treatment in diverse pediatric populations.

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