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Artesunate-amodiaquine efficacy in Congolese children with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Brazzaville

Authors :
Ndounga Mathieu
Mayengue Pembe Issamou
Casimiro Prisca Nadine
Loumouamou Dieudonné
Basco Leonardo K
Ntoumi Francine
Brasseur Philippe
Source :
Malaria Journal, Vol 12, Iss 1, p 53 (2013)
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
BMC, 2013.

Abstract

Abstract Background Congo-Brazzaville adopted artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in 2006. Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS + AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine are the first-line and second-line anti-malarial drugs to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, respectively. The baseline efficacy of AS + AQ was evaluated from February to August 2005 in patients living in Brazzaville, the capital city of the Republic of Congo. Methods One hundred and ninety-seven patients (96 ≤5 years old and 101 >5 years old, including adults) were recruited in a non-randomized study, treated under supervision with AS + AQ, and were followed up for 28 days in accordance with the 2003 World Health Organization protocol. Plasmodium falciparum recrudescent isolates from day 7 to day 28 were compared to pretreatment isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to distinguish between re-infection and recrudescence. Results The overall efficacy of AS + AQ after PCR correction on day 28 was 94.4%. An adequate clinical and parasitological response was observed in 94.3% and 94.4% of children aged ≤5 years old and those aged >5 years old (including adults), respectively. The main reported adverse events were dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea, pruritus, headache, anorexia, and abdominal pain. Conclusion This study has shown the high efficacy of AS + AQ in Congolese patients of all ages with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria and serves as the baseline efficacy and tolerance of this ACT in Brazzaville.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14752875
Volume :
12
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Malaria Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.f8a7c0555624ac9b3c838ffbe2fd549
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-12-53