Efficacy of artemisinin-based combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in under-five-year-old Nigerian children.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Oguche S; Okafor HU; Watila I; Meremikwu M; Agomo P; Ogala W; Agomo C; Ntadom G; Banjo O; Okuboyejo T; Ogunrinde G; Odey F; Aina O; Sofola T; Sowunmi A
- Source
- Publisher: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0370507 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1476-1645 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00029637 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Trop Med Hyg Subsets: MEDLINE
- Subject
- Language
- English
The efficacy of 3-day regimens of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine were evaluated in 747 children < 5 years of age with uncomplicated malaria from six geographical areas of Nigeria. Fever clearance was significantly faster (P = 0.006) and the proportion of children with parasitemia 1 day after treatment began was significantly lower (P = 0.016) in artesunate-amodiaquine-compared with artemether-lumefantrine-treated children. Parasite clearance times were similar with both treatments. Overall efficacy was 96.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.5-97.6%), and was similar for both regimens. Polymerase chain reaction-corrected parasitologic cure rates on Day 28 were 96.9% (95% CI 93.9-98.2%) and 98.3% (95% CI 96.1-99.3%) for artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine, respectively. Gametocyte carriage post treatment was significantly lower than pretreatment (P < 0.0001). In anemic children, mean time to recovery from anemia was 10 days (95% CI 9.04-10.9) and was similar for both regimens. Both treatments were well tolerated and are safe and efficacious treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young Nigerian children.
(© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)