THERAPY OF MALARIA AND AMEBIASIS

Treatment of malaria depends on the infecting Plasmodium species. In P lasmodium falciparum malaria the treatment also depends on whether chl oroquine resistances occur and whether the course is uncomplicated or complicated. Uncomplicated cases are cared for with chloroquine and wi th mefloquine or halofantrine when the patient comes from areas with c hloroquine resistances. Patients with complicated Plasmodium falciparu m malaria must get chinine and doxycycline. A careful fluid balance is extremely important in order to prevent noncardiac pulmonary edemas. Luminal infections with pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica are treated w ith diloxanide furoate, luminal infections with non-pathogenic Entamoe ba histolytica (= E.dispar) do not have to be treated. If differentiat ion is not possible, all asymptomatic cyst passers must get treatment. Patients with invasive amebiasis (amebic colitis and amebic liver abs cess) have to be treated with metronidazole, followed by diloxanide fu roate.