title: Co-trimoxazole for childhood febrile illness in malaria-endemic regions.
abstract: The efficacy of co-trimoxazole for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia in children younger than 5 years of age was evaluated in Malawi. 46 children with P falciparum parasitaemia, 37% of whom also met clinical criteria for a diagnosis of acute lower respiratory tract infection, were treated with 20 mg/kg co-trimoxazole twice daily for five days. Parasitaemia (mean clearance time 2.7 days) and symptoms were rapidly abolished and improvement was maintained during follow-up for 14 days. Co-trimoxazole may be an effective single treatment for febrile illness in young children in areas where malaria is endemic, resources are few, and diagnosis must rely on clinical findings alone.
authors.affiliation: Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Bloland
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Redd
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kazembe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tembenu
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wirima
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination