[Ineffective change of antimalaria prophylaxis to Artemisia vulgaris in a group travelling to West Africa].

Sixteen travellers to West Africa used four kinds of antimalaria chemoprophylaxis. Suspected malaria in three persons and vaginal candidiasis in one caused all seven doxycycline users to change their medication. One of these was persuaded to use Artemisia vulgaris extract. In the course of the three-month journey, there were seven suspected cases of malaria, only two of which could be confirmed by antibody and antigen detection or expert microscopy; both were in travellers who had used A. vulgaris. A. vulgaris had no effect on parasite growth in vitro. The use of natural products for malaria prophylaxis should be discouraged.