Clinical Trial: Effectiveness of Oral Antibiotics in the Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Oral Antibiotics in the Community-based Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Malawian Children

Brief Summary: The need for oral antibiotics as part of the case management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the outpatient setting has not been studied in a prospective trial. This study will compare the recovery rates of children with SAM treated at home with locally-produced ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) with and without prescribed antibiotics as part of their outpatient case management. The investigators hypothesize that there will be no significant difference in rates of recovery between children who receive and children who do not receive antibiotics.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Current Primary Outcome: nutritional recovery [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: weight gain [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Washington University School of Medicine

Dates:
Date Received: October 22, 2009
Date Started: December 2009
Date Completion:
Last Updated: July 1, 2011
Last Verified: July 2011