Efficacy Studies Of Dihydroartemisinin Plus Mefloquine Combination In Children With Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria In Lagos State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the efficacy of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), mefloquine (MQ) chloroquine (CQ) and combination of DHA and MQ in children for the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria, in Lagos. The toxic and histopathologic effect of DHA, MQ and  CQ using animal model (mice) was also assessed. Finally, the efficacy of DHA, MQ, CQ, combination of DHA plus MQ and DHA plus CQ on P. berghei in mice was evaluated.

Nine hundred and twenty patients aged between 3-13 years attending the outpatient clinic of Ijeede Health Center, Ikorodu and Massey Street Hospital, Lagos Island were screened for malaria parasites. One hundred patients were enrolled into the study after informed consent from the parents or guardians and ascertain from the patients. Patients were randomly allotted to one of the four treatment groups CQ, DHA MQ and DHA plus MQ combination.