AIM: To study the therapeutic efficacy of low dose intravenous artesunate followed by oral mefloquine in severe falciparum malaria in Singapore. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of 4 cases of severe falciparum malaria admitted for treatment in a private hospital in the first six months of this year. Patients were considered cured when no malaria parasites were detected in the blood film on discharge and remained afebrile at 28 days. RESULTS: This drug regimen was well tolerated, rapidly reduced parasitaemia and achieved 100% cure in all four patients. CONCLUSION: Low dose intravenous artesunate followed by mefloquine was found to be well tolerated and rapidly effective in treating severe falciparum malaria contracted in Indonesia and India. There was no relapse of clinical disease in all four cases after 28 days.
AIM: To study the therapeutic efficacy of low dose intravenous artesunate followed by oral mefloquine in severe falciparum malaria in Singapore. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of 4 cases of severe falciparum malaria admitted for treatment in a private hospital in the first six months of this year. Patients were considered cured when no malaria parasites were detected in the blood film on discharge and remained afebrile at 28 days. RESULTS: This drug regimen was well tolerated, rapidly reduced parasitaemia and achieved 100% cure in all four patients. CONCLUSION: Low dose intravenous artesunate followed by mefloquine was found to be well tolerated and rapidly effective in treating severe falciparum malaria contracted in Indonesia and India. There was no relapse of clinical disease in all four cases after 28 days.