Beach and colleagues were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of permethrin-impregnated bed nets and window/door curtains in this study from Kenya. A marked reduction in the incidence of Plasmodium falciparum infections in young children was observed with the use of bed nets and a smaller, but still significant reduction, was observed with curtains.
P falciparum parasitemia, fever, and insect inoculation rates were also reduced in a similar manner. During periods of high levels of transmission, as occurred in this study, bed nets seemed to delay rather than prevent infection.