Journal article
Tolerability and safety of primaquine in Papua New Guinean children 1 to 10 years of age
I Betuela, Q Bassat, B Kiniboro, LJ Robinson, A Rosanas-Urgell, D Stanisic, PM Siba, PL Alonso, I Mueller
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy | AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY | Published : 2012
DOI: 10.1128/AAC.05566-11
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. Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.