Hypnozoites resistant to primaquine: the first case reported from Kuwait

Primaquine is the only drug currently in use to eliminate the gametocytes of Plasmodium Vivax [PV] and also, destroys hypnozoites [latent liver stages] of PV and Plasmodium ovale [PO] and thereby effects a radical cure. The usual dose for antirelapse therapy for PO infection is 15 mg base daily for 14 days or once weekly for 8 weeks. Radical cure of PV in some parts of South-East Asia and Oceania requires higher total doses of primaquine [15-22.5 mg base daily for 14 days or once weekly for 8 weeks]. In Kuwait, 30 mg of primaquine is given weekly for 8 weeks as a radical cure according to WHO recommendations. In this paper, we report a case of a patient in whom, hypnozoites were resistant to primaquine at 45 mg weekly, for 8 weeks

Frequency of intestinal nematode infections among housemaids in Kuwait as a hint for their mass treatment

One hundred housemaids consecutively admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital for complaints other than intestinal parasitoses were investigated. Infections that included at least one intestinal nematode were diagnosed in 67 of the 100 housemaids. Hookworm [50%] and Trichuris trichiura [28%] were the most prevalent parasites, while Ascaris lumbricoides [5%] and Strongyloides stercoralis [2%] were found less frequently. Arguments are provided as to why prophylactic/mass treatment of all housemaids in Kuwait seems to be justified. Such an approach is based on the benefit to the housemaids rather than on the protection of the community. As Kuwait is an arid environment with high hygienic standards, safe water supply and a modern sewage disposal system, transmission of geohelminths appears to be fairly remote