Clindamycin in combination with chloroquine or quinine is an effective therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children from Gabon

J Infect Dis. 1994 Feb;169(2):467-70. doi: 10.1093/infdis/169.2.467.

Abstract

Multidrug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum is becoming common in Africa. In a randomized trial, four short-term regimens were compared for treating uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in children 4-15 years old in Gabon. One hundred thirty patients received chloroquine (25 mg/kg over 48 h; group C), chloroquine (as above) plus clindamycin (5 mg/kg every 12 h for 6 doses; group CCl), quinine (12 mg/kg every 12 h for 6 doses; group Q), or quinine (as above) plus clindamycin (as above; group QCl). In group C, only 9% of patients were cured by day 28, 44% showed recrudescent malaria (RI), and 47% showed intermediate or high-grade resistance (RII/RIII). In group CCl, 70% of patients were cured and 30% showed recrudescences. In group Q, 32% were cured and 68% showed recrudescences. In group QCl, 88% were cured and 12% showed recrudescences after day 14. All treatment regimens were well tolerated. Thus, the combination of clindamycin with chloroquine or quinine enhances parasite clearance and improves response to therapy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chloroquine / administration & dosage*
  • Clindamycin / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Gabon
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Quinine / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Clindamycin
  • Chloroquine
  • Quinine