Predictors of the failure of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in children with uncomplicated, Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology
A SowunmiA A Adedeji

Abstract

In many African countries, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS) is recommended for the treatment of children with malaria and pneumonia - in accordance with the guidelines for the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) - and, in some settings, for the home management of febrile illnesses. There have been few studies, however, of the risk of failure of treatment with this drug combination in children with acute, Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The factors that identify children at risk of treatment failure after being given TS were therefore evaluated in 101 children with acute, symptomatic, uncomplicated, P. falciparum malaria, in a hyper-endemic area of south-western Nigeria. Overall, 11% of the children failed treatment by day 14. In a multivariate analysis, two factors were found to be independent predictors of the failure of treatment with TS: an age of <3 years (adjusted odds ratio=0.1; 95% confidence interval=0.02-0.53; P=0.007); and a body temperature of >or=38 degrees C 2 days after the commencement of treatment (adjusted odds ratio=4.9; 95% confidence interval=1.2-21.3; P=0.03). These findings may have implications for control efforts in some sub-Saharan African countries, where TS is recommended for the manage...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 23, 2008·Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Ishag AdamElfatih M Malik

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antimalarial Agents (ASM)

Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.

Antimalarial Agents

Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.