title: Efficacy of artemisinin-based combination treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in under-five-year-old Nigerian children.
abstract: The efficacy of 3-day regimens of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine were evaluated in 747 children < 5 years of age with uncomplicated malaria from six geographical areas of Nigeria. Fever clearance was significantly faster (P = 0.006) and the proportion of children with parasitemia 1 day after treatment began was significantly lower (P = 0.016) in artesunate-amodiaquine-compared with artemether-lumefantrine-treated children. Parasite clearance times were similar with both treatments. Overall efficacy was 96.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 94.5-97.6%), and was similar for both regimens. Polymerase chain reaction-corrected parasitologic cure rates on Day 28 were 96.9% (95% CI 93.9-98.2%) and 98.3% (95% CI 96.1-99.3%) for artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine, respectively. Gametocyte carriage post treatment was significantly lower than pretreatment (P < 0.0001). In anemic children, mean time to recovery from anemia was 10 days (95% CI 9.04-10.9) and was similar for both regimens. Both treatments were well tolerated and are safe and efficacious treatments of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in young Nigerian children.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oguche
authors.forename: Henrietta U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Okafor
authors.forename: Ismaila
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Watila
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meremikwu
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agomo
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ogala
authors.forename: Chimere
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agomo
authors.forename: Godwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ntadom
authors.forename: Olajide
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Banjo
authors.forename: Titilope
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuboyejo
authors.forename: Gboye
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ogunrinde
authors.forename: Friday
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Odey
authors.forename: Olugbemiga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aina
authors.forename: Tolulope
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sofola
authors.forename: Akintunde
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sowunmi
mesh_terms: D000655:Amodiaquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000077611:Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination; D037621:Artemisinins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005449:Fluorenes; C515299:amodiaquine, artesunate drug combination; D000655:Amodiaquine; C031327:artemisinin