Chemoprophylaxis and Treatment of Malaria

Abstract

The struggle between malaria and man is far from over. The numbers of malaria cases and deaths from the disease each year are enormous — estimated at 200 to 300 million and 2 to 3 million, respectively.¹ Malaria has proved difficult to control. Acquired immunity is imperfect, and there is widespread resistance of the anopheline mosquito to insecticides. The parasite has been reported to have varying degrees of resistance to the antimalarial agents chloroquine, pyrimethamine–sulfadoxine (Fansidar), mefloquine, and (in Southeast Asia) quinine. Although Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae remain susceptible to chloroquine, P. falciparum, which poses . . .