Comparing Two Malaria Treatments in Africa
Author Information
Author(s): Menan Hervé, Faye Oumar, Same-Ekobo Albert, Oga Agbaya Serge S, Faye Babacar, Kiki Barro Christiane P, Kuete Thomas, N'diaye Jean-Louis, Vicky Ama-Moor, Tine Rogert, Yavo William, Kane Dieynaba, Kassi Kondo F, Kone Moussa
Primary Institution: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Hypothesis
Is the combination of dihydroartemisinin - piperaquine - trimethoprim more effective and better tolerated than artemether - lumefantrine for treating uncomplicated malaria?
Conclusion
The overall efficacy and tolerability of DPT are similar to those of AL, with DPT offering a shorter treatment time of two days.
Supporting Evidence
- The recovery rate at D14 was 100% in both treatment groups.
- More than 96% of patients who received DPT were fever-free 48 hours after treatment.
- The parasite clearance time was 48 hours or less for more than 95% of the DPT group.
Takeaway
This study looked at two treatments for malaria and found that one treatment works just as well as the other but takes less time to take.
Methodology
A randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial with a 28-day follow-up period comparing DPT to AL.
Limitations
The high proportion of subjects over the age of 15 may have overestimated recovery rates.
Participant Demographics
Patients were at least two years old with uncomplicated malaria; no significant differences in sex or age distribution between groups.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.023
Confidence Interval
97.5% CI > -1.90%
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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