Oral artesunate for neonatal malaria.
A 24-day male baby presented with a history of fever and poor feeding. The baby was pale and had hepatosplenomegaly. Peripheral blood films revealed Plasmodium vivax. Chloroquine is the drug of choice in neonatal malaria. However, our patient did not respond to chloroquine. There has been very little experience with other drugs. This case highlights the use of oral artesunate to which the baby responded. The future may see its more frequent use in resistant malaria.
Avabratha
K Shreedhara
KS
Department of Paediatrics, Fr Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. shreedharkdr@gmail.com
Chettiyar
L Agnidevi
LA
John
Navin P
NP
D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077332:Artesunate; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate; D002738:Chloroquine