[Efficacy of compound dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine in treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Myanmar].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of compound dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Myanmar. METHODS: From 2007 to 2008, patients aged 6 to 60 years with uncomplicated P. falciparum infection and parasite density 500 to 200 000 parasites/microl were enrolled following an informed consent. A three-day course of total 8 tablets compound dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine was administered to an adult (each tablet containing 40 mg of dihydroartemisinin and 320 mg of piperaquine phosphate), dosage for children was based on ages (details in the treatment regimen) . The indices including fever subsiding time, parasite clearance time, asexual parasite clearance time and adverse clinical responses were observed and collected on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients completed the treatment. The mean fever subsiding time and mean asexual parasite clearance time were (25.5 +/- 2.8) h and (39.5 +/- 7.8) h respectively. Asexual parasite clearance rate was 100% on day 7. Four cases recrudesced on day 28 and 16 cases had slight adverse clinical responses such as uncomfortable gastrointestinal tract, headache, nausea, vomit and diarrhea, which disappeared as soon as drug withdrawal. CONCLUSION: The compound dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine shows a sound efficacy in treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria