The effect of halofantrine versus quinine on patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Myanmar

ABSTRACT

Sixty patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria (less than 5 Percent of RBCs parasitised) were studied. Patients were alternatively assinged to treat with Halofantrine or Quinine. Halofantrine was given orally 500 mg six hourly for three doses. Quinine 10 mg/kg was given orally three times a day for 7 days. All the patients were admitted to the hospsital for 7 days and were followed up on days 14, 21 and 28. There were no differences in parasite clearance time and fever clearance time between two groups of patients. Among the apatients treated with Quinine two faile to complete the durg course. In one patient who was treated with Halofantrine, the initial parasite count was 171429 cumm at O hour of admission to hospital. The parasites were cleared at 42 hours and he became unconscious at 48 hours. He was put on standard dose of Artemether plus Mefloquine, but the patient became deeply jaundice and expired at 72 hours of admission to hospital. We concluded that further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of Halofantrine on Myanmar patients with complicate fallciparum malaria.