THE HAZARDS OF CHLOROQUINE SELF PRESCRIPTION IN WEST-AFRICA

We report a severe accidental chloroquine poisoning in a West African adult. This intoxication results from the widespread practice in Seneg al of taking mild doses of chloroquine for a few days (i.e. 300 mg x 3 for 3 or 5 days)following the onset of any fever suspected of being a malaria attack. To our knowledge, this practice and this kind of pois oning have not been reported before. The present clinical case demonst rated that self-medication can be the cause of severe chloroquine pois oning responsible for arrhythmia (torsades de pointes). In this clinic al case, no diazepam was administered. However, there were no further problems and the patient was discharged three days after admission to the intensive care unit.