COMPLIANCE WITH AND TOLERANCE OF MEFLOQUINE AND CHLOROQUINE PLUS PROGUANIL MALARIA CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS IN FRENCH SHORT-TERM TRAVELERS TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

To compare the compliance with and tolerance of mefloquine (MQ) and ch loroquine + proguanil (CQ-PRO) chemoprophylaxis, we conducted a study using a self-reported questionnaire in 2 groups of native French adult Visitors to Senegal or Kenya. CQ (100 mg dairy) + PRO (200 mg daily) prophylaxis was prescribed for all patients travelling to Senegal and for those going to Kenya when MQ was contraindicated; MQ (250 mg weekl y) was prescribed for the other subjects. There were no significant di fferences in age, sex, exposition and measures of protection against m osquito bites, concomitant drug use or mean duration of chemoprophylax is between the 2 groups, and compliance during travel was excellent in both. Chemoprophylaxis was more frequently interrupted prematurely in the MQ group. The rates of overall side-effects attributed to malaria chemoprophylaxis were 16% for MQ against 12% for CQ-PRO (not signific ant). However, nonserious neuropsychiatric adverse events are more fre quent with MQ: 11.5% compared to 2% with CQ-PRO. MQ should be used wit h caution.