Data collection procedures
malaria, CRF
MALARIA, CRF, MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS
Enrollees who met the inclusion criteria were given a detailed explanation of the study and were only enrolled after the accompanying parent or guardian signed an informed consent form. The information gathered from each participant was entered into case record forms (CRF) created specifically for the study. In the individual CRF, socio-demographic information, contact information for each enrollee, past medical history, as well as clinical and laboratory details for all enrollees in the study, were recorded. Each enrollee’s parent or guardian provided a detailed medical history, which included a history of the presenting symptoms as well as a list of current medications. In 2019, an electronic thermometer was used to measure axillary temperature, while an infrared thermometer (beamed at the forehead) was used in 2020 because of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.A few drops of capillary blood were obtained via finger prick for thick and thin blood smears and some into a capillary tube for hematocrit determination, and blood spots on filter paper for parasite genotyping at enrolment. For malaria parasite detection, thick and thin blood films were prepared from finger prick blood samples of each enrollee on Day 0, whereas only thick blood films were prepared at all other contact times and stained with fresh 10% Giemsa stain at pH 7.2. Dry stained blood films were viewed at a magnification of × 1000 using a light microscope in accordance with the WHO guidelines [All enrollees were followed up on out-patient basis daily from days 0 to 3 and then on days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Enrollees were also seen whenever a participant fell ill or a parent or guardian was concerned about their children's health. The day before follow-up visits, parents and guardians of enrollees were reminded by phone. Enrollees were provided transportation refunds to encourage compliance with follow-up. Evaluation at each visit included a brief clinical history and a physical examination to assess new complaints and medication side effects. A finger prick blood sample was taken on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and any other (scheduled or unscheduled) visit day for the preparation of thick blood films for the identification and quantification of asexual stages of the malaria parasite while filter paper blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 for parasite genotyping from the same capillary blood samples.