EFFICACITY AND TOLERABILITY OF ARTESUNATE AMODIAQUINE (ASAQ) VERSUS ARTHEMETHER LUMEFANTRINE (AL) IN THE TREATMENT OF UNCOMPLICATED PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM MALARIA AMONG CHILDREN FROM 0 TO 60 MONTHS IN THREE PROVINCES IN CHAD
Issa Ramat Adam, Akono Ntonga Patrick, Nack Jacques, Abakar Idriss Lawane, Samafou Kemba and Hamit Mahamat Alio*
ABSTRACT
The Chadian government recommends three artemisinin-based combinations for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: Artemether–Lumefantrine (AL), Artesunate–Amodiaquine (ASAQ). Due to the treatment of emerging anti-malarial drug resistance, it is important to periodically monitor the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). This study evaluated these medications therapeutic efficacy in Massakory, Mondo, and Dourbali Provinces. Enrollment occurred between January and April 2020. Study participants were children with P. falciparum monoinfection from each provincial capital. Participants received a 3-day course of a quality-assured artemisinin based combination and were monitored for 28 days (AL and ASAQ arms). We recruited 1130 children of whom 570 (ASAQ group) and 560 (AL group) were fully followed-up. The cure rates for ASAQ and AL treatments were 95.8% and 92.5% on day 28 respectively. Overall, both drugs were well tolerated at the clinical and biological level, no late parasitological failures have been recorded in AL and ASAQ groups. This study shows that ASAQ and AL are still effective and well tolerated. Accordingly, they can continue being used to treat uncomplicated malaria in Chad. However, monitoring of their efficacy should remain a priority for health authorities.
Keywords: Malaria, Efficacy, Plasmodium falciparum, Artesunate-Amodiaquine, Artemether-Lumefantrine.
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