title: A comparison of chloroquine and pyrimethamine as malaria chemoprophylactics in young Nigerian children.
abstract: The efficacy of chloroquine and pyrimethamine as malaria chemoprophylactics was investigated in young Nigerian children. Chloroquine resistance had not been documented in the study area; pyrimethamine resistance was probably present but uncommon. Children who received weekly chemoprophylaxis with pyrimethamine had a lower prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and malaria antibodies than children who received weekly chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine. Pyrimethamine given monthly gave a comparable degree of protection to chloroquine given weekly. Chloroquine frequently induced vomiting in young children and this may have impaired its efficacy as a prophylactic. We conclude that, in an area where neither chloroquine nor pyrimethamine resistance is prevalent, pyrimethamine is a better chemoprophylactic for young children than chloroquine.
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002738:Chloroquine; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D011739:Pyrimethamine