Artemisinin: large community studies.
Prospective randomized trials with oral artemisinin derivatives have been conducted in over 1000 patients to determine the optimum treatment of multi-drug resistant falciparum malaria on the Thai-Burmese border. These drugs have proved valuable in 3 settings. (i) Primary treatment of uncomplicated malaria in combination with mefloquine, when they accelerate the rate of recovery, eliminate the risk of dangerous early failures, and if given for 3 d or more improve overall cure rates; (ii) treatment of recrudescent infections, which otherwise have a high failure rate; and (iii) oral treatment of patients with high parasitaemias (> or = 4%) but no clinical evidence of severity (a group who would usually receive parenteral quinine). The parenteral formulation of artemether is absorbed if given rectally, and this may offer a practical alternative method of treating severe malaria in rural areas.
Nosten
F
F
Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mae Sod, Thailand.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013488:Suppositories
D000962:Antimalarials; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013488:Suppositories; D000077332:Artesunate; D000077549:Artemether; D015767:Mefloquine