[Long-term malaria prophylaxis with mefloquine: a study of adverse drug reactions]

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the relative frequency of reported adverse drug reactions during the malaria chemoprophylactic period of the Moroccan contingent in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Methods: The transversal survey involved all military personnel of the Moroccan contingent and was carried out using a questionnaire to be filled out by a multidisciplinary medical team. It was performed in all the military sites and the advanced posts accessible during the period of the study.

Results: The study involved 362 male military subjects. Ninety-four adverse drug reactions were described: neuropsychiatric (anxiety, irritability, dizziness...) [n=76], digestive (anorexia, diarrhea, nausea...) [n=42], cardiovascular (tachycardia, palpitation, precordialgia...) [n=5], musculoskeletal (arthralgia, cramps) [n=4], cutaneous (redness, purpura) [n=2], and other (n=13). No "unexpected" or "serious" adverse drug reaction was reported. The causality assessment score was determined in 94 cases. Two of these reports were rated "likely", 12 "possible" and 80 doubtful. More adverse drug reactions were reported by subjects having medical and paramedical functions.

Conclusion: During our study, mefloquine induced adverse drug reactions in a quarter of the treated subjects. Most of the adverse drug reactions were neuropsychiatric. No "serious" adverse drug reactions were reported underlying the interest of its use, even for long-term chemoprophylaxis.