Malaria is still, in spite of intensive efforts to reduce its transmission, the most serious and widespread protozoal
infection in man. More than 100 million people suffer of
malaria each year and one million, mostly children, die for it. Widespread resistance of P. falciparum to drugs, especially
4-aminoquinoline, has been progressing to such a speed in many endemic malarious areas that
therapy and prophylaxis procedures have been changing and new drugs or associations of them have been introduced.
Quinine and
chloroquine are still the main therapeutic agents against the blood forms of plasmodia, and
quinine is the first choice
drug in severe and complicated
malaria.
Mefloquine is highly effective against multiresistant P. falciparum, but it is not yet available in Italy. Association of
sulfadoxine or
sulfamethoxypyrazine to
pyrimethamine can be used for
therapy of resistant P.
falciparum malaria, but resistance to it is quickly spreading and side effects can be very dangerous.
Chemoprophylaxis must be weighed against the risk of toxic effects.
Chloroquine is still the
drug of choice;
tetracyclines can be added, for short periods, in areas of
chloroquine resistant
malaria and
mefloquine could be used in selected group of people, at high risk of
infection. For long time protection against
malaria infection it is most important to rely on protective measures against mosquito
bites: screens,
mosquito nets,
pyrethroids insecticides, skin repellents and wearing protective clothes. The role of
malaria vaccines can be very important in the prevention, but many practical problems have to be solved in order to achieve a wide use of the various preparations actually under trials.