%0 Journal Article
%T Therapeutic Efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Northern Ethiopia
%A Gebremedhin Kinfu
%A Solomon Gebre-Selassie
%A Nigus Fikrie
%J Malaria Research and Treatment
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/548710
%X Introduction. Multidrug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum is spreading throughout Africa. This has posed major challenges to malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in North Ethiopia. Methods. This prospective study was undertaken during August¨CNovember 2009 on 71 malaria patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria set by the WHO. Patients were followed up for 28 days. Thick and thin blood films were prepared by Giemsa stain for microscopy to determine parasite density. A standard six-dose regimen of artemether-lumefantrine was administered over three days and was followed up with clinical and parasitological evaluations over 28 days. Results. The cure rate (ACPR) was found to be high (97.2%) in this study. The parasite and fever clearance time was also rapid. Artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the study area showed 97.2% cure rate and only 2.8% failure rate. Conclusion. The result showed that the drug could continue as first line for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the study area. The efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine needs to be carefully monitored periodically in sentinel sites representing different areas of the country. 1. Introduction Malaria is one of the major public health problems worldwide causing more than one million deaths each year. It is widespread in hot humid regions of Africa, Asia, and South and Central America [1]. According to world health organization (WHO) estimation, about 300¨C500 million people are infected with malaria every year. More than 90% of all malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 85% of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum and is responsible for about 90% of the deaths from malaria [2]. Malaria has been consistently reported as one of the three leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia. Areas below 2000 meters above sea level are considered to be potentially malarious [3]. Malaria-related morbidity and mortality has been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily as a result of increased resistance to the common first line drugs¡ªchloroquine (CQ) and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) [4, 5]. Accordingly, the WHO recommends that treatment policies for falciparum malaria in all countries experiencing resistance to monotherapy should be combination therapies containing artemisinin derivatives. Artemisinin antimalarial drugs decrease parasite
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mrt/2012/548710/