Ndounga M., Mayengue P. I., Casimiro P. N., Loumouamou D., Basco Leonardo, Ntoumi F., Brasseur P. (2013). Artesunate-amodiaquine efficacy in Congolese children with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Brazzaville. Malaria Journal, 12, p. 53. ISSN 1475-2875.
Titre du document
Artesunate-amodiaquine efficacy in Congolese children with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Brazzaville
Ndounga M., Mayengue P. I., Casimiro P. N., Loumouamou D., Basco Leonardo, Ntoumi F., Brasseur P.
Source
Malaria Journal, 2013,
12, p. 53 ISSN 1475-2875
Background: Congo-Brazzaville adopted artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in 2006. Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS + AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine are the first-line and second-line anti-malarial drugs to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, respectively. The baseline efficacy of AS + AQ was evaluated from February to August 2005 in patients living in Brazzaville, the capital city of the Republic of Congo. Methods: One hundred and ninety-seven patients (96 <= 5 years old and 101 > 5 years old, including adults) were recruited in a non-randomized study, treated under supervision with AS + AQ, and were followed up for 28 days in accordance with the 2003 World Health Organization protocol. Plasmodium falciparum recrudescent isolates from day 7 to day 28 were compared to pretreatment isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to distinguish between re-infection and recrudescence. Results: The overall efficacy of AS + AQ after PCR correction on day 28 was 94.4%. An adequate clinical and parasitological response was observed in 94.3% and 94.4% of children aged <= 5 years old and those aged > 5 years old (including adults), respectively. The main reported adverse events were dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea, pruritus, headache, anorexia, and abdominal pain. Conclusion: This study has shown the high efficacy of AS + AQ in Congolese patients of all ages with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria and serves as the baseline efficacy and tolerance of this ACT in Brazzaville.
