[Results of an experiment on chemoprophylaxis of malaria using mefloquine in Cambodia (Cambodia-Thai border region)]

Abstract

39 members of a medical team working in an area near the Cambodia-Thaï border were given an individual antimalaria chemoprophylaxis by Mefloquine (2 tablets--500 mg--every other week), carried on for 2 months after return. Two falciparum accesses were reported after the return, and in one of them, there was also a failure of the Mefloquine treatment (1,5 g in 16 hours). This access was successfully treated by Naphtyridine. The results proved that Mefloquine is now the best individual chemoprophylaxis in this area of South East Asia where, from 1979 to 1981, the other prophylaxis failed (chloroquine, pyrimethamine + sulphonamide or sulfone, quinine); it was also discovered that some strains of P. falciparum were resistant to Mefloquine.