High level of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in children in Tanzania

TY - JOUR

T1 - High level of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in children in Tanzania

AU - Rønn, A M

AU - Msangeni, H A

AU - Mhina, J

AU - Wernsdorfer, W H

AU - Bygbjerg, I C

N1 - Keywords: Animals; Antimalarials; Child; Child, Preschool; Double-Blind Method; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine; Tanzania; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - In many areas of tropical Africa affected by chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, a combination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine (S-P) is used for alternative medication, especially in young children. In Magoda village in Muheza District, north-eastern Tanzania, 38 children 1-10 years of age were enrolled in a therapeutic study of S-P in July 1994. All had monoinfections of P. falciparum and an asexual parasite count of 1000-80,000/microL of blood. S-P was given as a single dose corresponding to 0.8-1.4 mg pyrimethamine/kg body weight. Of the 38 children followed up to day 7, 10 showed an S/RI response, 26 an RII response, and 2 an RIII response. Older children had lower pre-treatment parasitaemia and a better therapeutic response than younger children. Among the various contributory factors responsible for the poor therapeutic result, drug pressure from a prophylactic intervention with weekly dapsone-pyrimethamine between May 1993 and May 1994 seems to have been the most important.

AB - In many areas of tropical Africa affected by chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, a combination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine (S-P) is used for alternative medication, especially in young children. In Magoda village in Muheza District, north-eastern Tanzania, 38 children 1-10 years of age were enrolled in a therapeutic study of S-P in July 1994. All had monoinfections of P. falciparum and an asexual parasite count of 1000-80,000/microL of blood. S-P was given as a single dose corresponding to 0.8-1.4 mg pyrimethamine/kg body weight. Of the 38 children followed up to day 7, 10 showed an S/RI response, 26 an RII response, and 2 an RIII response. Older children had lower pre-treatment parasitaemia and a better therapeutic response than younger children. Among the various contributory factors responsible for the poor therapeutic result, drug pressure from a prophylactic intervention with weekly dapsone-pyrimethamine between May 1993 and May 1994 seems to have been the most important.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8761583

SN - 0035-9203

VL - 90

SP - 179

EP - 181

JO - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

JF - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

IS - 2

ER -