[e-drug] Mefloquine as malaria chemoprophylaxis (5)

["Dr S Toovey" <toovey@travelclinic.co.za>]

E-DRUG: Mefloquine as malaria chemoprophylaxis (5)
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In answer to Rina Meyer's question, there isn't really convincing evidence
that prophylactic use of any antimalarial contributes to plasmodial
resistance. Resistance is thought to derive from therapeutic drug pressure
in endemic areas.

The majority of travellers who develop clinical malaria while taking
prophylaxis will have departed the malarious area of exposure before patent
malaria develops. Additionally, transmission of resistant parasites only
becomes possible once gametocytaemia occurs. This is typically a late
development in non-immunes, and most would have presented for treatment
before gametocytaemia develops.

Dr Stephen Toovey MBBCh, CTM, FACTM, FFTM
Johannesburg South Africa, Basel Switzerland
Phones:+27-82-466-6322;+41-61-421-7872
SMS:+27-82-466-6322
Fax:+41-61-421-7063
Postal address: Burggartenstrasse 32, CH-4103 Bottmingen, Switzerland
toovey@travelclinic.co.za