Journal of Vector Borne Diseases (Sep 2010)
Comparative study of efficacy of artesunate plus cotrimoxazole and artesunate plus chloroquine in the treatment of malaria in Nigerian children: a preliminary report
Abstract
Background & objectives: The study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of cotrimoxazole plusartesunate and to compare the efficacy of this combination with that of artesunate plus chloroquinein the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children.Methods: Children aged between 0.5 and 12 yr with clinical and parasitological evidence ofPlasmodium falciparum malaria were randomized to receive either artesunate plus cotrimoxazoleor artesunate plus chloroquine. They were followed-up with clinical and parasitological assessmentfor a period of 14 days.Results: In all, 57 out of 81 (31 in the artesunate plus cotrimoxazole group and 26 in artesunateplus chloroquine group) completed the study as per protocol and were evaluated. Pre-treatmentclinical and parasitological parameters were similar in the two treatment groups. The time to clearfever and other symptoms were similar in the two groups 1.0 + 0 vs 1.14 + 0.38 (p > 0.05).Parasite clearance times were also similar; 1.65 + 0.49 days vs 1.58 + 0.67 days respectively forartesunate plus cotrimoxazole and artesunate plus chloroquine (p > 0.05). The cure rates on Day14 were 100% for both artesunate plus cotrimoxazole and artesunate plus chloroquine groups.Both drug combinations were well-tolerated in the small population of children.Conclusion: These results indicate that artesunate plus cotrimoxazole has similar efficacy toartesunate plus chloroquine in the treatment of acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria inchildren resident in an endemic area of south-west Nigeria.
