The Response of Children with Falciparum Malaria to Quinine

ABSTRACT

10 children with falciparum malaria (highly parasitised) who had not had previous antimalarial therapy were chosen for the study-Quinine dihydrochloride 10 mg/kg body weight diluted in 150-200ml of normal saline was administered as infusion over 4-5 hours as the first dose. Subsequent doses were given orally as quinine sulphate 10 mg/kg body weight 8 hourly. The total duration of treatment was 7 days. The serum quinine levels, the parasite count, and the clinicalprogress were determined at different intervals of treat,emt/ 9 pit pf 10 cjo;drem jad serim quinine levels above Burmese MIC level of 4.3 mg per litre and no signs and symptoms of quinine toxicity was observed even in patients with high serum quinine levels. (ie.> 10 u gm/ml.)