Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients in both treatment arms at the time of enrollment

Fever

Yes

No

26 (21.7%)

94 (78.3%)

24 (19.7%)

98 (80.3%)

1.129

0.06- 2.105

0.07

Joint pains

Yes

No

40 (38.3%)

80 (73.3%)

49 (40.2%)

73 (59.8%)

0.745

0.441-1.259

0.27

Headache

Yes

No

11 (9.2%)

109 (90.8%)

13 (10.7%)

109 (89.3%)

0.846

0.363-1.971

0.69

Drugs for malaria prophylaxis before the study

Yes

No

99 (48.3%)

21(56.8%)

106 (51.7%)

16 (43.2%)

0.712

0.351-1.441

0.89

Bed net use

Yes

No

77 (64.2%)

43 (35.8%)

98 (80.3%)

24 (19.7%)

0.44

0.23 -0.82

0.05

Pallor

Yes

No

115 (95.8%)

5 (4.2%)

115 (94.3%)

7 (5.7%)

1.4

0.432- 4.540

0.57

Jaundice

Yes

No

110 (91.7%)

10 (90.2%)

110 (90.2%)

12 (9.8%)

1.2

0.49 - 2.893

0.68

Age (yrs) mean (SD)

Age < 5 yrs

Age > 5 yrs

5.49 (4.5)

67 (55.8%)

53 (44.2%)

5.5 (4.3)

60 (49.2%)

62 (50.8%)

N/A

...

N/A

....

N/A

....

N/A

...

N/A

...

N/A

...

0.89

0.30

Sex

Female

Male

66(55%)

54(45.0%)

55(45.1%)

67(54.9%)

N/A

...

N/A

...

N/A

...

N/A

...

0.01*

Weight (kg)

18.43 ± 7.7

18.10 ± 6.8

N/A

...

N/A

...

0.72

Pulse (per min.)

92 ± 13.8

93 ± 15.0

N/A

...

N/A

...

0.58

Temperature(°C)

36.79 ± 2.0

36.5 ± 2.1

N/A

...

N/A

...

0.63

Haemoglobin (g/dl)

7.3 ± 1.29

7.2 ± 1.25

N/A

...

N/A

...

0.45