Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria with quinine in children in Guinea-Bissau: one daily dose is sufficient.

Abstract

We have earlier obtained good results in falciparum malaria by treating children with low doses of quinine for 7 days in Guinea-Bissau. In order to further simplify treatment, we compared outcome in 100 children with falciparum malaria treated in 1999/2000 for 7 days with 15 mg quinine salt/kg/dose twice daily (group I), 100 children treated with 7.5 mg quinine salt/kg/dose twice daily (group II), and 100 children treated with one single daily dose of 15 mg/kg. One day 28, parasites had reappeared in 12%, 15%, and 9%, respectively. These results are similar to what has been found after previous successful treatment regimens. Apart from a higher incidence of vomiting during the first 24 h of treatment in the groups treated with 15 mg/kg/dose no significant differences in symptoms or side-effects were found between the groups. In patients suffering from uncomplicated malaria, treatment with quinine can be simplified to one single dose of 15 mg/kg bodyweight whenever logistics make 2 daily doses less feasible.

• Authors: Poul-Erik Kofoed, Fernando Có, Anja Poulsen, Claudina Cabral, Kathryn Hedegaard, Peter Aaby, Lars Rombo
• Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg) 2002 Mar-Apr Vol. 96 Issue 2 Pg. 185-8 ISSN: 0035-9203 [Print] England
• PMID: 12055811 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antimalarials
• Quinine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antimalarials (administration & dosage)
• Child
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Guinea-Bissau
• Humans
• Malaria, Falciparum (drug therapy)
• Male
• Quinine (administration & dosage)