Effectiveness of short-course quinine and single-dose sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

Abstract

Introduction. Quinine therapy for 7 days remains the mainstay for treating hospitalised malaria cases in South Africa. However, limited resources, including available beds and staff, often result in early discharge of non-severe cases, with quinine tablets for outpatient use. The effectiveness of shorter course quinine therapy coupled with a long-acting antimalarial drug has never been established in Africa, in particular in a population without malaria immunity. Methods. A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-day course of therapy with quinine sulphate (10 mg/kg 8-hourly) followed by a single dose of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) according to weight category, before dis..