1. Efficacy of antimalarial chemoprophylaxis among French residents travelling to Africa
- Author
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Fontanet, Arnaud L., Houzé, Sandrine, Keundjian, Annick, Schiemann, Ricarda, Ralaimazava, Pascal, Durand, Rémy, Cha, Olivier, Coulaud, Jean-Pierre, Le Bras, Jacques, and Bouchaud, Olivier
- Subjects
CHEMOPREVENTION ,MALARIA ,FRENCH people - Abstract
Controversy exists about which antimalarial chemoprophylaxis regimen should be used among travellers to Africa: the WHO and other experts recommend the use of mefloquine throughout sub-Saharan Africa, whereas French experts still support the combination of chloroquine and proguanil in most of West Africa (the so-called zone 2 countries). In this case–control study based at a travel clinic, we examined the compliance with antimalarial chemoprophylaxis and its efficacy among travellers to tropical areas. Cases were patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria (n = 131). Controls were patients who had a negative malaria film (n = 158). Of all controls, only 36 (22.8%) were adequately protected (i.e. compliant with an adapted regimen of chemoprophylaxis). In zone 2 countries, the efficacy of the combined chloroquine and proguanil was 58% (95% CI 22–78%) for all users, but increased to 100% (95% CI 89–100%) for compliant users. In zone 3 countries, the efficacy of mefloquine was 90% (95% CI 51–98%) and 100% (95% CI 58–100%) for all users and compliant users, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2005
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