Management of Malaria in Thailand.
10.3347/kjp.2002.40.1.1
- Author:
Silachamroon UDOMSAK
;
Krudsood SRIVICHA
;
Phophak NANTHAPHORN
;
Looareesuwan SORNCHAI
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
malaria;
chemotherapy;
combination
- MeSH:
Adult;
Antimalarials/*administration & dosage;
Child;
Clinical Trials as Topic;
Drug Administration Routes;
Drug Administration Schedule;
Drug Therapy, Combination;
Humans;
Malaria/*drug therapy;
Recurrence/prevention & control;
Severity of Illness Index;
Thailand;
Time Factors
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2002;40(1):1-7
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The purpose of treatment for uncomplicated malaria is to produce a radical cure using the combination of: artesunate (4 mg/kg/day) plus mefloquine (8 mg/kg day) for 3 days; a fixed dose of artemether and lumefantrine (20/120 mg tablet) named Coartem (4 tablets twice a day for three days for adults weighing more than 35 kg); quinine 10 mg/kg 8-hourly plus tetracycline 250 mg 6-hourly for 7 days (or doxycycline 200 mg as an alternative to tetracycline once a day for 7 days) in patients aged 8 years and over; Malarone (in adult 4 tablets daily for 3 days). In treating severe malaria, early diagnosis and treatment with a potent antimalarial drug is recommended to save the patients life. The antimalarial drugs of choice are: intravenous quinine or a parenteral form of an artemisinin derivative (artesunate i.v./i.m. for 2.4 mg/kg followed by 1.2 mg/kg injection at 12 and 24 hr and then daily for 5 days; artemether i.m. 3.2 mg/kg injection followed by 1.6 mg/kg at 12 and 24 hrs and then daily for 5 days; arteether i.m. (Artemotil) with the same dose of artemether or artesunate suppository (5 mg/kg) given rectally 12 hourly for 3 days). Oral artemisinin derivatives (artesunate, artemether, and dihydroartemisinin with 4 mg/kg/day) could replace parenteral forms when patients can tolerate oral medication. Oral mefloquine (25 mg/kg divided into two doses 8 hrs apart) should be given at the end of the artemisinin treatment course to reduce recrudescence.
