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Treatment of tungiasis using a tea tree oil-based gel formulation: protocol for a randomised controlled proof-of-principle trial
- Source :
- BMJ Open, Vol 11, Iss 7 (2021), BMJ Open
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- BMJ Publishing Group, 2021.
-
Abstract
- IntroductionTungiasis (sand flea disease or jigger infestation) is a neglected tropical disease caused by penetration of female sand fleas, Tunga penetrans, in the skin. The disease inflicts immense pain and suffering on millions of people, particularly children, in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there is no standard treatment for tungiasis, and a simple, safe and effective tungiasis treatment option is required. Tea tree oil (TTO) has long been used as a parasiticidal agent against ectoparasites such as headlice, mites and fleas with proven safety and efficacy data. However, current data are insufficient to warrant a recommendation for its use in tungiasis. This trial aims to generate these data by comparing the safety and efficacy of a 5% (v/w) TTO proprietary gel formulation with 0.05% (w/v) potassium permanganate (KMnO4) solution for tungiasis treatment.Methods and analysisThis trial is a randomised controlled trial (RCT) in primary schools (n=8) in South-Western Kenya. The study will include school children (n=88) aged 6–15 years with a confirmed diagnosis of tungiasis. The participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive a 3-day two times a day treatment of either 5% TTO gel or 0.05% KMnO4 solution. Two viable embedded sandflea lesions per participant will be targeted and the viability of these lesions will be followed throughout the study using a digital handheld microscope. The primary outcome is the proportion of observed viable embedded sand fleas that have lost viability (non-viable lesions) by day 10 (9 days after first treatment). Secondary outcomes include improvement in acute tungiasis morbidities assessed using a validated severity score for tungiasis, safety assessed through adverse events and product acceptability assessed by interviewing the participants to rate the treatment in terms of effectiveness, side effects, convenience, suitability and overall satisfaction.Ethics and disseminationThe trial protocol has been reviewed and approved by the University of Canberra Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC-2019-2114). The findings of the study will be presented at scientific conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numbersAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619001610123); PACTR202003651095100 and U1111-1243-2294.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
medicine.medical_specialty
Tunga penetrans
030231 tropical medicine
030106 microbiology
Dermatology
infectious diseases
paediatric dermatology
law.invention
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Tea Tree Oil
Randomized controlled trial
law
Internal medicine
Epidemiology
complementary medicine
medicine
Humans
Child
Adverse effect
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
biology
business.industry
Standard treatment
Australia
Tropical disease
General Medicine
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
Kenya
Clinical trial
Caribbean Region
Tungiasis
Medicine
Female
infectious diseases & infestations
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20446055
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMJ Open
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fadb702b6aceb5231ad5cb9a2d813134