ABSTRACT
Two studies were conduct in Thailand in order to find appropriate falciparum malaria prophylactic drug regimens. The first study was done during June - September 1987 with 363 soldiers who received Fansimef (MSP) 1 tab/week (group 1), 337 soldiers who received MSP 1 tab/2 week (group 2) and 165 soldiers who received chloroquine 300 mg base weekly plus Fansidar 1 tab/week (group 3). At the end of the study there were 9 and 13 falciparum malaria episodes in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with incidence rates of 0.8 and 1.8 cases/100 person-months (P-M). In group 3, the corresponding values were 30 episodes and an incidence of 7.2/100 P-M. For the second study which lasted from October 1987 - January 1988 in the same area, 498 soldiers were given Fansimef 1/2 tab/week (group 4), 499 soldiers were given Lariam 1/2 tab/week (group 5) and 247 soldiers were given chloroquine plus Fansidar (group 6). Thirty malaria episodes were found in group 4, for an incidence of 2.0/100 P-M. In group 5, 23 episodes were found, for an incidence of 1.6/100 P-M. In group 6, 74 episodes occurred, ie an incidence of 12.2/100 P-M. The incidence rates of malaria among Fansimef 1 tab weekly, Fansimef half dose weekly or Lariam half dose weekly were not significantly different but were different from chloroquine plus Fansidar groups. Adverse events in each group were mild.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/isolation & purification , Blood/parasitology , Chloroquine/therapeutic use , Drug Combinations , Humans , Malaria, Falciparum/prevention & control , Male , Mefloquine/analogs & derivatives , Military Personnel , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use , Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use , ThailandABSTRACT
Malaria epidemiology in displaced Karen ethnic children along the Thai-Burmese (Myanmar) border was observed for 3 years. An active screening process in connection with malaria chemoprophylaxis trials showed a decrease in malaria prevalence over time in children not receiving chemoprophylaxis. The number of malaria cases detected at a primary health care clinic in the same area remained stable.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Animals , Child , Female , Humans , Malaria/drug therapy , Male , Mass Screening , Myanmar/ethnology , Plasmodium vivax , Prevalence , Refugees , Thailand/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A battalion of Royal Thai Marine militia was assigned to take either 50 mg or 100 mg of doxycycline daily or pyrimethamine/dapsone weekly for malaria prophylaxis on the Thai-Kampuchean border for a 17 week period. Attack rates for the groups expressed as cases/100 men were 34 for 50 mg doxycycline, 18 for 100 mg doxycycline, and 52 for pyrimethamine/dapsone. The relative efficacy of the two doxycycline regimens compared to Maloprim were 1.6 and 1.4. Compliance with the daily drug nearly equalled that of the weekly regimen. This suggests that 100 mg of doxycycline daily can be effectively used for malaria prophylaxis by soldiers under operational conditions on the Thai-Kampuchean border.