Background: The development and spread of antimalarial drug resistant parasites contributes to the global impact of the disease. In vivo efficacy assessments of treatments for Plasmodium falciparum malaria are essential for ensuring effective case management. Artemisinin-based combinations have been adopted as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Cameroon since 2004.
Methods: A total of 177 children aged six-months to 10 years with uncomplicated mono-infected falciparum malaria were randomized (1:1) to receive artesunate/sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS/SP) or artesunate/amodiaquine (AS/AQ) pediatric tablets and followed up for 28 days according to the standard World Health Organization in vivo drug efficacy monitoring protocol. The primary and secondary endpoints were PCR uncorrected and corrected cure rates, as measured by adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on day 28.
Results: The PCR corrected cure rate was high, overall (88.1%, 95% CI 83.1-93.1), 85.9% (95% CI 78.2-93.6), and 90.2% (95% CI 83.8-96.6) for AS/SP and AS/AQ, respectively. Twenty-one treatment failures were observed during follow-up, constituting one (4.6%), 14 (8.2%), and six (3.5%) early treatment failure (ETF), late clinical failure (LCF), and late parasitological failure (LPF), respectively. The drugs were well tolerated with no serious adverse events.
Conclusions: Both AS/SP and AS/AQ are highly effective and well-tolerated treatments for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria around the slope of Mount Cameroon.
Keywords: ACT (artemisinin–based combination therapy); in vivo efficacy; uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum.