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Malaria,FalciparumNCT05567016

CHILD (Child Health and Infection With Low Density) Malaria

A study testing Active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm) and Passive case detection using molecular testing (PCDm) in people with Malaria,Falciparum and Malaria, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in Tanzania.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This trial will assess the long-term health and socioeconomic impact of interventions targeting low-density malaria infection (LMI) among children in Tanzania Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 months to 10 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Malaria,Falciparum, Malaria
What is being tested?
Active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm) and Passive case detection using molecular testing (PCDm)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
600 participants
Where
1 siteTanzania
Study dates
18 Jul 2023to 28 Nov 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 6 months to 10 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • 6 months to 10 years of age of age at enrollment
  • Primary residence in the study area during the study period
  • Agree to come to study clinic for any illness
  • Agree to avoid medications outside the study, even herbal medication

Who cannot join

  • Another child from household already randomly selected for recruitment
  • Not able or does not provide informed consent
  • Need for emergency intervention
  • Known history of chronic illness requiring regular specialty care including diabetes mellitus, cancer, or Stage 3 or 4 HIV/AIDS
  • Contraindications to artemether-lumefantrine (AL) including history of allergic reaction, weight under 5 kg
  • Participation in another active/ongoing intervention trial

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Tanzania1 site
  • Kiwangwa and Fukayosi clinics

    Bagamoyo

Other trials in Tanzania

About this study

Official title: Child Health and Infection With Low Density (CHILD) Malaria, a Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Long-term Health and Socioeconomic Impact of Interventions Targeting Low-density Malaria Infection (LMI) Among Children in Tanzania

This trial will assess the long-term health and socioeconomic impact of interventions targeting low-density malaria infection (LMI) among children in Tanzania

Read the detailed description

This is a 3-arm open-label randomized control trial of 600 children aged 6 months to 10 years in Tanzania, where transmission is low and a high proportion of infections are low-density. Standard of care based on passive case detection (PCD) using rapid diagnostic test (control arm) will be compared to two different approaches to detect and treat P. falciparum LMI: active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm) and PCD using molecular testing (PCDm). Aims are:

  1. To assess the impact of standard PCD plus ACDm vs standard PCD on long-term child health
  2. To assess the impact of PCDm vs standard PCD on long-term child health
  3. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ACDm and PCDm
Being tested
Active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm), Passive case detection using molecular testing (PCDm), Control (standard of care)
Keywords
malaria, child health, chronic infection, subclinical infection, patent infection, subpatent infection, active case detection, passive case detection, fever case management
Medical subject headings
Malaria, Falciparum, Malaria, Persistent Infection, Asymptomatic Infections

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm)Other

    In the ACDm arm, children will receive ACD using RDT and qPCR 3x yearly with treatment using artemether-lumefantrine (AL) if RDT or qPCR positive. With fevers, participants will receive standard PCD using RDT.

  • Passive case detection using molecular testing (PCDm)Other

    With fevers, participants will receive PCDm, in which qPCR will be done in RDT negatives with treatment using AL if positive.

  • Control (standard of care)Other

    With fevers, participants will receive standard PCD using RDT with treatment using AL if positive.

Study groups in NCT05567016
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active Case Detection using molecular testing (ACDm)ExperimentalPer standard of care, children will receive passive case detection (PCD) using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) if they present with fever. Children will receive malaria active case detection (ACD) using RDT and qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) three times yearly with treatment using artemether-lumefantrine (AL) if RDT or qPCR positive.
Receives: Other: Active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm)
Passive Case Detection using molecular testing (PCDm)ExperimentalChildren who present with fever will receive PCD using RDT and qPCR with treatment using AL if RDT or qPCR positive. Per standard of care, children will not receive malaria ACD.
Receives: Other: Passive case detection using molecular testing (PCDm)
Standard passive case detection (PCD)Active comparatorPer standard of care, children will receive PCD using RDT. Per standard of care, children will not receive malaria ACD.
Receives: Other: Control (standard of care)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Incidence of all-cause sick visits

    Number of sick visits to health facility per person time, excluding planned admissions for medical care, elective surgery, and trauma.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

Secondary outcomes (31)
  1. Prevalence of anemia

    Proportion of routine Hb measurements that are low (<11 g/dL) or moderate-severe low (<8 g/dL)

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  2. Prevalence of underweight status

    Prevalence of underweight status will be defined as the percentage of participants with low weight for age z-scores of less than -2. The World Health Organization (WHO) anthropometric indices will be utilized for standards.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  3. Prevalence of stunting

    Prevalence of stunting will be defined as the percentage of participants with low height for age z-scores of less than -2. The World Health Organization (WHO) anthropometric indices will be utilized for standards.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  4. Prevalence of wasting

    Prevalence of wasting will be defined as the percentage of participants with low weight for height z-scores of less than -2. The World Health Organization (WHO) anthropometric indices will be utilized for standards.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  5. Prevalence of malnutrition

    Prevalence of malnutrition will be defined as the percentage of participants with a z-score of -3 to -2 indicating moderate malnutrition or a z-score of less than -3 indicating severe malnutrition in any of the following: weight for age, height for age, or weight for height.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  6. Prevalence of vomiting following administration of study drugs

    Vomiting immediately or within 30minutes following administration of study drugs and measures of non-adherence.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  7. All-cause fever episodes

    Number of fever episodes (reported fever in the past 48hrs and/or axillary temperature of ≥37.5°C) per person time

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  8. Incidence of clinical symptoms

    Number of days with overall symptoms reported as moderate (≥3 on a 5-point scale) per person time

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  9. Incidence of clinical malaria

    New episodes of positive malaria test (with fever or other clinical symptoms) per person time

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  10. Proportion of fever episodes with clinical failure

    Proportion of fever episodes that lead to clinical failure, defined as persistent or worsening symptoms assessed 7 and 28 days after initial evaluation.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  11. Prevalence of parasitemia

    Proportion of routine samples with parasites detected by microscopy or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  12. Incidence in antibiotics prescribed

    Number of antibiotic regimens prescribed per person time

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  13. Cognitive ability among children 0-3.4 years of age on the Global Scales of Early Development (GSED)

    GSED is a validated instrument that measures population-level early childhood development. The tool measures children's early skills and behaviors in four primary domains: motor, cognitive, language, and social-emotional development.Measures will be normalized within our sample to mean 0 and standard deviation 1, with higher scores indicating better test performance.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  14. Cognitive ability among children 3.5-5 years of age on the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA)

    The IDELA is a validated, global tool that uses direct child assessment to measure early learning and development across 4 core domains (Emergent Literacy, Emergent Numeracy, Motor, Social-emotional). Scores range from 0-100% as a percentage of correct tasks averaged across the 4 domains. Measures will be normalized within our sample to mean 0 and standard deviation 1, with higher scores indicating better test performance.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  15. Cognitive ability among children 6-12 years of age on the East Africa Neurodevelopment Assessment Tool

    The East African Neurodevelopment Assessment Tool is a locally adapted modification of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test 2nd Ed. The test assesses 3 core metrics including general intelligence, executive function, literacy skills - in addition to behavioral and emotional development. Measures will be normalized within our sample to mean 0 and standard deviation 1, with higher scores indicating better test performance.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  16. Sustained attention among children 5-8 years of age on the Pencil Tapping Test

    The pencil tapping test is one of the tasks in the Preschool Self-Regulation Assessment (PSRA) and is used to assess inhibitory control in younger children. The child and an assessor have pencils, and child is instructed to tap one/two times(s) depending on what assessor does, with the number of correct responses scored. Measures will be normalized within our sample to mean 0 and standard deviation 1, with higher scores indicating better test performance.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  17. Sustained attention among children 9-12 years of age on the Code Transmission Test, a local adaptation of the Test of Everyday Attention for Children(TEA-Ch)

    Code transmission test is a sub-test of Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch) used for assessment of sustained attention in children. In the test, the child must remember spoken digits, and remember the digit that comes before sequence of numbers. Child is scored on completed and correct answers. Measures will be normalized within our sample to mean 0 and standard deviation 1, with higher scores indicating better test performance.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  18. Incidence of school absenteeism

    The number of days of school absenteeism for any reason including illness.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  19. School performance

    School performance will be defined as the incidence of school advancement to the next grade.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  20. Socioeconomic costs to participant

    Estimated long-term income loss due to impaired early childhood development

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  21. Socioeconomic costs to family

    Total caregiver-reported costs of sick visits and transport to sick visits plus estimated loss of income from number of days of caregiver work absenteeism.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  22. Socioeconomic costs to health system

    Estimated costs of testing and treatment for caregiver-reported number of sick visits.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  23. Cost effectiveness

    Cost per outcome averted (e.g., per sick visit averted, per disability adjusted life years (DALYs), and per economic dollar saved, etc.)

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  24. Prevalence of systemic inflammation

    Proportion of sick visits with elevated elevated C-reactive pep-tide (CRP)

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  25. Proportion with antimalarial antibodies against P.falciparum

    Percentage of patients with antimalarial antibodies

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  26. Proportion with biomarkers of inflammation

    Percentage of patients with elevated cytokines

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  27. Proportion with general antibody responses to vaccines

    Percentage of patients with vaccine antibodies

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  28. Proportion with general antibody responses to common pathogens

    Percentage of patients with common pathogen antibodies

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  29. Incidence of adverse events (AEs)

    Number of AEs per person time. AEs will be considered as any grade 3-4 AE or serious adverse event (SAE); individual AEs; or AEs related to study drugs.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  30. Incidence of wasting

    Incidence proportion of wasting will be defined for each age range of measurement. It is defined as the proportion of children not wasted at the start of the period who became wasted during the age period (the proportion of children who had the onset of new episodes during the period). Incident wasting episodes are defined as a change in weight-for-length z-scores from above -2 Z in the prior measurement to below -2 Z in the current measurement. We will define incident severe wasting analogously using a -3 Z cutoff. We will assume a 60-day washout period before a new wasting episode could occur.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

  31. Incidence of stunting

    Incidence proportion of stunting will be defined for each age range of measurement. It is defined as the proportion of children not stunted at the start of the period who became stunted during the age period. Incident stunting episodes will be defined as a change in length-for-age z-scores from above -2 Z in the prior measurement to below -2 Z in the current measurement. We will define incident severe stunting analogously using a -3 Z cutoff.

    Measured: 24-30 months from enrollment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Oct 2022
  2. Study start18 Jul 2023
  3. Primary completion28 Nov 2025
  4. Study completion28 Nov 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Individual randomized controlled trial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
600 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05567016
Sponsor's protocol ID
DMID protocol 21-0046
Other IDs
U01AI155315
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
30 Sep 2022
Last updated
29 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Summary results information will be submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov within 12 months of completion of follow-up of all study participants. After completion of the clinical trial, un-blinding will be performed, and results will be disseminated widely by presentation at international scientific meetings, in reports and policy meetings for local, regional, and global stakeholders, and in publications in peer-reviewed journals. Upon completion of planned analyses and publication of the main trial results, data will be made available for research purposes to other individuals in the scientific community upon request to the PI and Consortium PIs. Informed consent documents for the study will include a specific statement relating to posting and sharing of study information at ClinicalTrials.gov, and in presentations, reports, and publications, and that no individual identities will ever be used in these materials and forums.

Publications

  • Jebiwott S, Gutapaka N, Sumari D, Loss G, Athuman T, Nyandele JP, Cummins H, Chemba M, Benjamin-Chung J, Gangar P, Wu X, Smith J, Chen I, Dorsey G, Fink G, Olotu A, Hsiang M. Child Health and Infection with Low Density (CHILD) malaria: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial to assess the long-term health and socioeconomic impacts of testing and treating low-density malaria infection among children in Tanzania. BMJ Open. 2024 Mar 27;14(3):e082227. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082227.

    PubMed 38538037

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Active case detection using molecular testing (ACDm) and Passive case detection using molecular testing (PCDm) in people with Malaria,Falciparum and Malaria, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in Tanzania.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Tanzania. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Incidence of all-cause sick visits (time frame: 24-30 months from enrollment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05567016, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jan 2026.

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