Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria with quinine in children in Guinea-Bissau: one daily dose is sufficient.

Abstract We have earlier obtained good results in falciparum malaria by treating children with low doses of quinine for 7 days in Guinea-Bissau. In order to further simplify treatment, we compared outcome in 100 children with falciparum malaria treated in 1999/2000 for 7 days with 15 mg quinine salt/kg/dose twice daily (group I), 100 children treated with 7·5 mg quinine salt/kg/dose twice daily (group II), and 100 children treated with one single daily dose of 15 mg/kg. On day 28, parasites had reappeared in 12%, 15%, and 9%, respectively. These results are similar to what has been found after previous successful treatment regimens. Apart from a higher incidence of vomiting during the first 24 h of treatment in the groups treated with 15 mg/kg/dose no significant differences in symptoms or sideeffects were found between the groups. In patients suffering from uncomplicated malaria, treatment with quinine can be simplified to one single dose of 15 mg/kg bodyweight whenever logistics make 2 daily doses less feasible.