Effectiveness of the Association Artesunate and Mefloquine in the Treatment of Malaria by Plasmodium Falciparum

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be aged between 6 months and 70 years old;
• Be with mono-infection confirmed laboratorial by P.falciparum;
• Having parasite count between 250/uL and 100.000/uL;
• If female, not pregnant, confirmed by specific test;
• Being feverish or report having had fever (axillary temperature >37.5°C or 99,5°F) in last 48 hours;
• Be able to receive oral medication;
• Demonstrate interest and facility to meet the schedule of visits and monitoring for 42 days;
• Agree to participate in the study by signature (or parents) of IC.
• Do not show evidence of severe malnutrition: underweight 60% of the weight-standard, below-average height for age indicating malnutrition in the past and weight-height below the average indicating dietary current deficiencies (WHO, 2006);
• Do not show danger signals to severe malaria. Note: We will be careful to include individuals who have used quinine or quinidine recently (three days before), because the risk of toxicity due to interaction with mefloquine.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Present after inclusion, danger signs/symptoms for severe malaria as recommended by the WHO;
• Present after inclusion, laboratory evidence of mixed infection with another species of Plasmodium;
• Having a diagnosis of other acute infectious disease that courses with fever, such as acute respiratory infection, common viruses of childhood diarrhea, etc;
• Having a diagnosis of chronic co morbidities or severe disease such as cirrhosis, chronic renal failure or heart failure;
• Have a history of hypersensitivity to the components of the combination ASMQ.