Efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Northeast Ethiopia

Authors

  • Assefa Mulu Department of Pharmacy, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
  • Berhanu Geresu Department of Pharmacy, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
  • Yeshiwork Beyene Department of Nursing, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
  • Muluneh Ademe Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20150026

Keywords:

Artemether/lumefantrine, Plasmodium falciparum malaria, Efficacy, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The impact of resistance to antimalarials is insidious and unless efficacy studies are conducted, resistance may go unrecognized. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of artemether/lumefantrine, for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infections in Kemisie Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods: Artemether/lumefantrine efficacy study was conducted in Kemisie Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia from September, 2012 to May, 2013. The study participants were febrile people above the age of 6 months with confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum infection. Patients were treated with artemether/lumefantrine. Clinical and parasitological parameters were monitored over a 28 days follow-up period to evaluate drug efficacy. The Kaplan–Meier method was used for statistical analysis of data on drug efficacy.

Results: Among the 66 enrolled participants 72.7% were 15 and above years of age while 15.3% were less than 5 years old. Of these study participants, 53% were male. There was 89.4% fever clearance and 84.8% parasite clearance on day 1, whereas, there was 100% fever clearance and 96.8% parasite clearance on day 3 from the 62 participants who carried on the study. Among 66 participants who had started 28 days of follow-up one patient had an early parasitological failure (parasitemia on day 3) and another patient had a late parasitological failure (parasitemia on day 21).

Conclusions: In general, this study discovered good clinical and parasitological response of P. falciparum to artemether/lumefantrine. Further polymeric chain reaction and plasma drug concentration based effectiveness study of artemether/lumefantrine should be conducted throughout the country.

References

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Published

2017-01-18

How to Cite

Mulu, A., Geresu, B., Beyene, Y., & Ademe, M. (2017). Efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Northeast Ethiopia. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 4(3), 492–496. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20150026

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Section

Original Research Articles