Artesunate--amodiaquine combination therapy for falciparum malaria in young Gabonese children.
BACKGROUND
Artesunate-amodiaquine combination for the treatment of childhood malaria is one of the artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) recommended by National authorities in many African countries today. Effectiveness data on this combination in young children is scarce.


METHODS
The effectiveness of three daily doses of artesunate plus amodiaquine combination given unsupervised (n = 32), compared with the efficacy when given under full supervision (n = 29) to children with falciparum malaria were assessed in an unrandomized study.


RESULTS
61 patients analysed revealed a PCR-corrected day-28 cure rate of 86 % (25 of 29 patients; CI 69-95 %) in the supervised group and 63 % (20 of 32 patients; CI 45-77 %) in the unsupervised group. The difference in outcome between both groups was statistically significant (p = 0.04). No severe adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of this short course regimen in young children with falciparum malaria could be augmented by increased adherence and improved formulation.
Oyakhirome
Sunny
S
Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon. drsunnysmcn@hotmail.com <drsunnysmcn@hotmail.com>
Pötschke
Marc
M
Schwarz
Norbert G
NG
Dörnemann
Jenny
J
Laengin
Matthias
M
Salazar
Carmen Ospina
CO
Lell
Bertrand
B
Kun
Jürgen F J
JF
Kremsner
Peter G
PG
Grobusch
Martin P
MP
D000655:Amodiaquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005681:Gabon; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000655:Amodiaquine; D000077332:Artesunate