Novel therapies for the prevention of malaria.
BACKGROUND
Malaria continues to exact a huge toll on the health of residents of endemic countries. Thus, new approaches to prevention and treatment are needed.


OBJECTIVE
To provide an update on novel therapies for the prevention of malaria.


METHODS
Systematic MEDLINE search from 1956 to 2008 using the search term 'malaria' (with the subheadings 'intermittent preventive treatment', 'mass drug administration', 'chemotherapy', 'artemisinin-based combination therapy' and 'home-based management of malaria').


CONCLUSIONS
Chemoprophylaxis is used as a short-term protective measure for non-immune visitors to malaria-endemic countries. However, in malaria-endemic areas, chemoprophylaxis has not been implemented widely because of concerns related to sustainability, cost-effectiveness, appropriate delivery systems and development of drug resistance. Intermittent preventive treatment, a novel approach to malaria control, has the potential to provide some of the benefits of sustained chemoprophylaxis without some of its drawbacks.
Bojang
Kalifa A
KA
Medical Research Council (UK) The Gambia MRC Laboratories, Fajara, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia. kbojang@mrc.gm
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018890:Chemoprevention; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000962:Antimalarials