A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE EFFICACIES OF CHLOROQUINE AND A PYRIMETHAMINE-DAPSONE COMBINATION IN CLEARING PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM PARASITEMIA IN SCHOOL-CHILDREN IN TANZANIA

A randomized study on the in vivo efficacies of chloroquine and a pyri methamine-dapsone combination (Maloprim) in clearing P. falciparum par asitaemia was carried out in 77 asymptomatic semi-immune schoolchildre n in the Kilombero District of Tanzania. Children were randomized to r eceive either chloroquine at a dose of 25 mg/kg over three days, or Ma loprim (6.25 mg pyrimethamine + 50 mg dapsone for children under 10 ye ars, and 12.5 mg pyrimethamine + 100 mg dapsone for children Io or mor e years old) as a single dose. Children were followed-up for malaria p arasitaemia at days 2, 7 and 14 after screening, randomization and tre atment. The slide positivity rate was lower in the Maloprim group at a ll cross-sectional surveys (23 vs 37% at day 2; 9 vs 20% at day 7; 21 vs 32% at day 14) but none of these differences reached statistical si gnificance. No cases in the Maloprim group showed RII resistance, wher eas in the chloroquine group, 2 cases showed RII resistance and a furt her 2 cases RIII resistance (6%). No major side-effects were reported. The combination of pyrimethamine-dapsone appears to be a better choic e than chloroquine as a chemoprophylactic regimen for malaria in this area. Although they need to be confirmed in a larger study, these resu lts may be of interest to the policy-makers as well as researchers.