Abstract

CARMONA-FONSECA, Jaime. High efficacy of primary chemoprophylaxis with primaquine: metanalysis. Iatreia [online]. 2006, vol.19, n.3, pp.244-260. ISSN 0121-0793.

BACKGROUND : There are many reportss about primaquine as primary chemoprophylactic (1-CP) in humans, but we do not know of any metaanalysis about this subject. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS : Is primaquine effective to prevent malaria in humans? Does primaquine efficacy to prevent malaria depend on the place, the age of patients, or the Plasmodium species? METHODOLOGY : Procedures recommended for metanalysis were applied. RESULTS : Four laboratory experimental studies (LES) in humans and seven clinical controlled studies (CCS) were included. According to LES the adequate primaquine dose as 1-CP for adults is 30 mg/day from the day before exposition and during the time of exposition. According to CCS protection was 93% in people that received primaquine and 45% in those who did not receive it (p = 0.0000000). CONCLUSIONS : Primaquine is highly effective for 1- CP of malaria, its efficacy is similar against both P. falciparum and P. vivax, it protects adults as well as children and 1-CP with primaquine must be adopted as a valid alternative. Field studies are necessary in order to know the security and toxicity in children younger than eight years.

Keywords : FALCIPARUM; MALARIA; META-ANALYSIS; PALUDISM; PLASMODIUM; PRIMAQUINE; PRIMARY PROPHYLAXIS; VIVAX.

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