INDICES> Malaria drugs

[Ian Couper <couper@lantic.net>]

Malaria drugs
____________

This message was posted to us by Andy Gray from the  Drug Information &
Policy network <druginfo@healthlink.org.za>

Hi All

I have been contacted by my colleagues at Manguzi Hospital for some help
with regard to malaria treatment which some of you may be able to give input
into, while I am still searching the literature.

They are in the midst of a bad malaria epidemic, which is likely to get
worse. Chloroquine has run out, apparently from the provincial supply
centre too.  Fansidar has run out there too, though the hospital still
has some stocks.  Apparently there is not enough Fansidar in the
country.  (Can this really be true??!!!)

Recent studies into the area (at Ndumo) suggest up to 50% resistance to
Fansidar used alone.

So, the question is, should they use doxycycline with Fansidar?  What
about in children?
If Fansidar runs out, what about co-trimoxazole, which is apprently used in
some African countries?

This is working on the assumption, which I hope everyone will agree
with, that we should continue to reserve quinine for severe and
complicated malaria (while it remains effective.)

Any thoughts?

Ian


Ian Couper
Family Physician, Odi District, North West Province/Senior Lecturer,
Department of Family Medicine, MEDUNSA
Address -  Work: Department of Family Medicine, PO Box 222, MEDUNSA,
>0204, South Africa
>                Home: PO Box 1368, Hartbeespoort, 0216, South Africa
>Tel.: (W) 012 5214314  (Cell) 082 7548586  (H) 012 2531796
>Fax.: 012 5214172
>E-mail: couper@lantic.net


--
Send mail for the `INDICES' conference to `indices@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to:  `owner-indices@usa.healthnet.org'.