Publication: Defining the burden of febrile illness in rural South and Southeast Asia: An open letter to announce the launch of the Rural Febrile Illness project
Issued Date
2021-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
2398502X
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85104576008
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Wellcome Open Research. Vol.6, (2021)
Suggested Citation
Arjun Chandna, Yoel Lubell, Nan Shwe Nwe Htun, Thomas J. Peto, Marco Liverani, Tobias Brummaier, Koukeo Phommasone, Sazid Ibna Zaman, Aye Sandar Zaw, Elizabeth Batty, Naomi Waithira, Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, Stuart D. Blacksell, Ladaporn Bodhidatta, James J. Callery, Watcharintorn Fagnark, Shayla Islam, Sanchai Lertcharoenchoke, Mavuto Mukaka, Tiengkham Pongvongsa, William H.K. Schilling, Janjira Thaipadungpanit, Rupam Tripura, Arjen M. Dondorp, Mayfong Mayxay, Nicholas J. White, Francois Nosten, Frank Smithuis, Elizabeth A. Ashley, Richard J. Maude, Nicholas P.J. Day Defining the burden of febrile illness in rural South and Southeast Asia: An open letter to announce the launch of the Rural Febrile Illness project. Wellcome Open Research. Vol.6, (2021). doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16393.1 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/76386
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Title
Defining the burden of febrile illness in rural South and Southeast Asia: An open letter to announce the launch of the Rural Febrile Illness project
Author(s)
Arjun Chandna
Yoel Lubell
Nan Shwe Nwe Htun
Thomas J. Peto
Marco Liverani
Tobias Brummaier
Koukeo Phommasone
Sazid Ibna Zaman
Aye Sandar Zaw
Elizabeth Batty
Naomi Waithira
Melissa Richard-Greenblatt
Stuart D. Blacksell
Ladaporn Bodhidatta
James J. Callery
Watcharintorn Fagnark
Shayla Islam
Sanchai Lertcharoenchoke
Mavuto Mukaka
Tiengkham Pongvongsa
William H.K. Schilling
Janjira Thaipadungpanit
Rupam Tripura
Arjen M. Dondorp
Mayfong Mayxay
Nicholas J. White
Francois Nosten
Frank Smithuis
Elizabeth A. Ashley
Richard J. Maude
Nicholas P.J. Day
Yoel Lubell
Nan Shwe Nwe Htun
Thomas J. Peto
Marco Liverani
Tobias Brummaier
Koukeo Phommasone
Sazid Ibna Zaman
Aye Sandar Zaw
Elizabeth Batty
Naomi Waithira
Melissa Richard-Greenblatt
Stuart D. Blacksell
Ladaporn Bodhidatta
James J. Callery
Watcharintorn Fagnark
Shayla Islam
Sanchai Lertcharoenchoke
Mavuto Mukaka
Tiengkham Pongvongsa
William H.K. Schilling
Janjira Thaipadungpanit
Rupam Tripura
Arjen M. Dondorp
Mayfong Mayxay
Nicholas J. White
Francois Nosten
Frank Smithuis
Elizabeth A. Ashley
Richard J. Maude
Nicholas P.J. Day
Other Contributor(s)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Universitat Basel
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
Mahosot Hospital, Lao
Mahidol University
The Open University
Nagasaki University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
University of Health Sciences
Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit
Savannakhet Provincial Health Department
Angkor Hospital for Children
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Universitat Basel
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
Mahosot Hospital, Lao
Mahidol University
The Open University
Nagasaki University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
University of Health Sciences
Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit
Savannakhet Provincial Health Department
Angkor Hospital for Children
Abstract
In rural areas of South and Southeast Asia malaria is declining but febrile illnesses still account for substantial morbidity and mortality. Village health workers (VHWs) are often the first point of contact with the formal health system, and for patients with febrile illnesses they can provide early diagnosis and treatment of malaria. However, for the majority of febrile patients, VHWs lack the training, support and resources to provide further care. Consequently, treatable bacterial illnesses are missed, antibiotics are overused and poorly targeted, and patient attendance wanes along with declining malaria. This Open Letter announces the start of a new initiative, the Rural Febrile Illness (RFI) project, the first in a series of projects to be implemented as part of the South and Southeast Asian Community-based Trials Network (SEACTN) research programme. This multi-country, multi-site project will begin in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar and will define the epidemiological baseline of febrile illness in five remote and underserved areas of Asia where malaria endemicity is declining and access to health services is limited. The RFI project aims to determine the incidence, causes and outcomes of febrile illness; understand the opportunities, barriers and appetite for adjustment of the role of VHWs to include management of non-malarial febrile illnesses; and establish a network of community healthcare providers and facilities capable of implementing interventions designed to triage, diagnose and treat patients presenting with febrile illnesses within these communities in the future.