We evaluated the efficacy and safety of halofantrine in 19 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Each patient received oral halofantrine hydrochloride 500 mg every 6 hours for 3 doses (total 1.5 g). In almost all the patients clinical symptoms of malaria and parasitaemia disappeared within 2 and 3 days, respectively, of starting treatment. We observed no recurrence of parasitaemia during 14 days of follow-up. Tolerance to halofantrine was good except for minor and self-limiting gastrointestinal side-effects. Haematological and biochemical indices were not seriously affected. Halofantrine-induced prolongation of Q-T/Q-Tc intervals was the consistent cardiac manifestation in 84% of patients. The Q-T/Q-Tc interval prolongation increased with each dose; it reached a maximum between 18 and 24 hours and thereafter returned to baseline. These preliminary data indicate that, apart from the cardiac side-effects, halofantrine is an effective and safe drug, well tolerated by most of the patients in the study. PIP: The authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of halofantrine in 19 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Each patient received oral halofantrine hydrochloride 500 mg every 6 hours, for a total of 3 doses (total 1.5 g). In almost all the patients clinical symptoms of malaria and parasitemia disappeared within 2 and 3 days, respectively, of starting treatment. They observed no recurrence of parasitemia during 14 days of follow-up. Tolerance to halofantrine was good except for minor and self-limiting gastrointestinal side effects. Hematological and biochemical indices were not seriously affected. Halofantrine-induced prolongation of Q-T/Q-Tc intervals was the consistent cardiac manifestation in 84% of patients. The Q-T/Q-Tc interval prolongation increased with each dose; it reached a maximum between 18 and 24 hours and thereafter returned to baseline. These preliminary data indicate that, apart from the cardiac side effects, halofantrine is an effective and safe drug, well tolerated by most of the patients in the study.
Antimalarials - administration & ; dosage ; Antimalarials - therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; Malaria, Falciparum - blood

The Phase 1 semiannual single-dose 6 mg/kg diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment program demonstrated a significant reduction for Wuchereria bancrofti in the Ok Tedi area of Western Province, Papua New Guinea. The rate of detectable microfilaraemia was effectively reduced from 39% to 11% and mean microfilarial (mf) densities from 79mf/20 microliters to 19mf/20 microliters. The Phase 2 annual single-dose treatment of 6mg/kg DEC not only maintained the gains made during Phase 1 but reduced the microfilaraemia rate to less than 5% by 1990, with mf densities remaining stable at less than 20mf/20 microliters, amongst all participating villagers screened within the 5 original villages. The annual treatment program was expanded into 7 remote villages not subject to any form of active vector control. The microfilaraemia rate in these villages declined from 41% before treatment to 17% after only two annual administrations of 6mg/kg DEC, and mf blood densities were reduced from 71mf/20 microliters to 20mf/20 microliters. As was observed in the 5 original villages participating in the program, a significant reduction in splenomegaly associated with the DEC treatment was reported for the 7 villages in the expanded program during Phase 2; enlarged spleen rates were reduced from 50% (1986) to 32% (1990) and from 76% (1988) to 48% (1990), respectively. Malaria rates on the other hand increased slightly or remained stable. Malaria infections associated with W. bancrofti (mixed parasite infections) stimulated a greater splenic response than either parasite detected on its own.
Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Diethylcarbamazine - administration & ; dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule