Publications & Reports

Tolerability and safety of primaquine in Papua New Guinean children 1 to 10 years of age.

Inoni Betuela, Quique Bassat, Benson Kiniboro, Leanne J Robinson, Anna Rosanas-Urgell, Danielle Stanisic, Peter M Siba, Pedro L Alonso, Ivo Mueller
PNG Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

Abstract

Primaquine is currently the only drug available for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale liver infection stages, but limited safety data exist for children <10 years of age. Detailed daily assessments of side effects in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-normal children treated with 14 days of primaquine plus chloroquine (3 days; n = 252) or artesunate (7 days; n = 141) (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) showed that both treatments are well tolerated, do not lead to reductions in hemoglobin levels, and can thus safely be used in children 1 to 10 years of age.

Publication

  • Journal: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
  • Published: 01/04/2012
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 4
  • Pagination: 2146-2149

Author

Health Issue