Efficacy of single dose Amodiaquine co-administered with Sulphadoxine/Pyrimethamine against falciparum infection in B/Ladi an area of multi-drug resistant malaria.

Abstract

A study was conducted in Barkin Ladi on the North Central plateau of Nigeria to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a single-dose (10 mg/kg) amodiaquine co-administered with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) against Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children less than 5 years of age using a 14-day protocol. The combination was highly efficacious in 41 patients involved in the trial, producing rapid parasite clearance (MPCR= 2.73 days) and faster clearance of fever (MFCR= 1.2 days). Adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) achieved was 97.6%, while there was 1 (2.4%) case of late parasitological failure (LPF). The single-dose combination produced a significant improvement in PCV (p<0.05; t= 6.390, df = 37), from an average value of 28.7% (±5.2%) on D0 to 34.2% (±3.4%) on D14. The drug combination was well tolerated by the patients; only 2 (4.8%) cases of pruritus occurred amongst the children. The results confirm the efficacy of SP-amodiaquine combination therapy against falciparum malaria