Treating malaria
Drug therapy: Using antimalarials
Over the years, there have been many attempts to eradicate malaria. For example, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, some countries attempted mass prophylaxis by distributing salt that contained chloroquine or pyrimethamine. These programs, together with indiscriminate and haphazard use of antimalarials at subcurative doses, helped to select parasite strains that were resistant to one or more drugs. In addition, parasite mutation appears to have produced reduced sensitivity to some drugs, as is the case with sulfadoxine+pyrimethamine; and atovaquone, for example.18
Multi-drug resistance (MDR) generally refers to parasites resistant to at least two common drugs, e.g. chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Treating malaria
Malaria represents a major threat to world health; resistance to antimalarials such as chloroquine is now widespread and increasing.
Drug resistance to P. falciparum from studies in sentinel sites, up to 2004
RBM/WHO 05
Artemisinin- based combination therapies (ACTs) are now generally considered as the best current treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The WHO recommends that all countries experiencing resistance to conventional monotherapies, such as chloroquine, amodiaquine or sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine, should use combination therapies, preferably those containing artemisinin derivatives for falciparum malaria.
Countries that include artemisinin-based combinations therapy in antimalarial treatment policy, as of 2004
Source: RBM/WHO 05
Coartem® / Riamet® is effective in areas of multi-drug resistance. For more information, see Coartem® /Riamet® combined monograph.
