title: Pilot feasibility study of an emergency paediatric kit for intra-rectal quinine administration used by the personnel of community-based health care units in Senegal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quinine injection is the reference treatment for malaria when oral administration is impossible. Quinine can also be administered by the intra-rectal route and, over the last ten years, a series of studies have been conducted in children to determine the ideal dose and dilution in the African situation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of a kit for an immediate administration of quinine alkaloids (Quinimax) by community health workers, prior to transfer of the child to a more sophisticated health care establishment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, open, descriptive community intervention study conducted in northern Senegal at six village Health Units in children fewer than ten years of age with non-per-os malaria. Controls were given the routine care prior to transfer to a Health Center, and cases were in addition administered Quinimax (20 mg/ml) via the intra-rectal route before transfer. Patients were followed through complete cure and parasitological tests were carried out on Days 0, 3 and 7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  134 patients (79 cases/55 controls) were recruited between November 2003 and May 2004 or October and November 2004. The two groups were comparable at inclusion. In the case group, oral drugs could be administered after a mean of 16.8 hours versus 33.6 hours in the control group. Time-to cure was shorter in cases than in controls. Complete parasite clearance was obtained in all patients by Day 7. The kit was well accepted by all concerned and more than 80% of community health workers judged the kit easy to use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The emergency paediatric kit is a useful tool in the management of malaria in children who cannot be treated orally. It is feasible and easy to use for health workers in community-based Health Units where, according to the WHO, nearly 80% of malarial morbidity and mortality occurs.
authors.affiliation: Service de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Cheikh Anta DIOP de Dakar, Senegal. jlndiaye@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jean Louis A
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Roger C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tine
authors.forename: Babacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faye
authors.forename: El Hadj Lamine
authors.initials: el HL
authors.lastname: Dieye
authors.forename: Pape Amadou
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Diack
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lameyre
authors.forename: Oumar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gaye
authors.forename: Husseyn Dembel
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sow
mesh_terms: D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services; D004630:Emergencies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011803:Quinine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D011803:Quinine