Slow clearance of Plasmodium vivax with chloroquine
amongst children younger than six months of age in the Brazilian
Amazon |
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Authors: | André M Siqueira Lucas I Coutinho Rafael L Gurgel Willian CS Su Luiz M Carvalho Silvana G Benzecry Aline CC Alencar Márcia AA Alexandre Maria Gra?as C Alecrim Marcus VG Lacerda |
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Institution: | 1.Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brasil;2.Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM, Brasil;3.Nilton Lins University, Manaus, AM, Brasil |
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Abstract: | Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread parasite causing malaria, being
especially prevalent in the Americas and Southeast Asia. Children are one of the
most affected populations, especially in highly endemic areas. However, there are
few studies evaluating the therapeutic response of infants with vivax malaria.
This study retrospectively evaluated the parasitaemia clearance in children
diagnosed with vivax malaria during the first five days of exclusive treatment
with chloroquine (CQ). Infants aged less than six months old had a significantly
slower parasitaemia clearance time compared to the group of infants and children
between six months and 12 years old (Kaplan-Meier survival analysis; Wilcoxon
test; p = 0.004). The impaired clearance of parasitaemia in younger children with
vivax malaria is shown for the first time in Latin America. It is speculated that
CQ pharmacokinetics in young children with vivax malaria is distinct, but this
specific population may also allow the detection of CQ-resistant parasites during
follow-up, due to the lack of previous immunity. |
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Keywords: | malaria Plasmodium vivax paediatrics chloroquine |
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