OPEN COMPARISON OF MEFLOQUINE, MEFLOQUINE SULFADOXINE/PYRIMETHAMINE AND CHLOROQUINE IN ACUTE UNCOMPLICATED FALCIPARUM-MALARIA IN CHILDREN/

The susceptibility in vivo of Plasmodium falciparum to mefloquine, mef loquine/sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine and chloroquine was investigated in 115 children with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Susceptibili ty of P. falciparum isolates to mefloquine and chloroquine in vitro wa s also investigated. Mefloquine alone and mefloquine/sulfadoxine/pyrim ethamine showed similar response rates and both reduced parasitaemia a nd fever more rapidly than chloroquine. Mefloquine also promptly reduc ed parasitaemia and fever within 48 h in all chloroquine treatment fai lures. In vitro, 10% of isolates showed reduced susceptibility to mefl oquine and 18% were resistant to chloroquine. These results suggest th at the addition of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine does not have a significa nt therapeutic advantage over mefloquine alone in the treatment of acu te uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children from this endemic area .