The safety of atovaquone/proguanil in long-term malaria prophylaxis of nonimmune adults.
BACKGROUND
Data on the long-term safety of atovaquone/proguanil in nonimmune travelers are limited.


METHODS
An open-label study, involving 300 Danish soldiers stationed in Eritrea for 6 months was initiated. The subjects self-reported their symptoms on a post-travel questionnaire. The study compared the symptoms of compliers and noncompliers.


RESULTS
No serious adverse events occurred. Diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, cough, and loss of appetite were the most common symptoms reported. No case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Atovaquone/proguanil was safe and well tolerated in this group of long-term nonimmune travelers.
Department of Gastrointestinal and Parasitic Diseases, World Health Organization, National Malaria Diagnostic Reference Center, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Eskild
E
Petersen
D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053626:Atovaquone; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019017:Eritrea; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002727:Proguanil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel
D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009285:Naphthoquinones; C109496:atovaquone, proguanil drug combination; D002727:Proguanil; D053626:Atovaquone