title: Artesunate--amodiaquine combination therapy for falciparum malaria in young Gabonese children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon. drsunnysmcn@hotmail.com <drsunnysmcn@hotmail.com>
authors.forename: Sunny
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oyakhirome
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pötschke
authors.forename: Norbert G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dörnemann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laengin
authors.forename: Carmen Ospina
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lell
authors.forename: Jürgen F J
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kun
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kremsner
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grobusch
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D000655:Amodiaquine; D000077332:Artesunate