The effectiveness of chloroquine compared to Fansidar in treating falciparum malaria

Abstract

Background The most difficult problem in eradicating malaria is the resistance of P. falciparum to drugs. Mandailing Natal has the highest malaria incidence in North Sumatera. Objective This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of chloro- quine and Fansidar in treating falciparum malaria. Methods A randomized double-blind study was done from April to May 2001. Eighty-three patients with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria infection were randomized into two groups. Group I (35 patients) received chloroquine and group II (48 pa- tients) received Fansidar. Blood examinations were performed on the 1 st , 2 nd , 7 th , and 28 th days. Results The resistance of P. falciparum to drugs in the chloro- quine group were found in 10 patients with R II and 1 patients with R III, while in the Fansidar group, there were 14 patients with R II. Conclusion The efficacy of chloroquine and Fansidar in treating falciparum malaria was not significantly different

Keywords

• chloroquine
• Fansidar
• Plasmodium falciparum
• drug resistance