Efficacy, safety and acceptability of halofantrine in the treatment of acute Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in African Children (Gabon)

Abstract

Habfantrine hydrochloride 2% suspension was given to 20 children (seven male, 13 female, mean age 5.5 years) at a dose of 8 mg/kg 6 hourly for three doses. The children were born and brought up in Gabon, where malaria transmission is continuous. They were suffering from acute falciparum malaria and were kept in hospitalfor four days, with a total follow-up of 14 days. The 20 children were cured; efficacy was evaluated as good in 16 cases, and excellent in four cases, considering their clinical signs were premalignant or they had high parasitaemias. Two criteria were considered in the efficacy evaluation: parasitaemia clearance (median day 3), and fever clearance (median 24 h). There was no recrudescence during the 14 days follow-up. Clinical and biological tolerance of the drug was good, and acceptability was excellent in all cases. Halofantrine 2% suspension orally is a good alternative to oral quinine in the treatment of acute falciparum malaria in children, especially with the present problem of multidrug-resistant strains in Central Africa.