Malaria N° 3 - Subject N° 4

INTRAMUSCULAR VERSUS INTRAVENOUS QUININE THERAPY IN CEREBRAL MALARIA IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN
P.E. Olumese, O. Sodeinde, B.O. Olaleye & O. Walker

SUMMARY
The efficacy of quinine administered either intramuscularly (i.m) or intravenously (i.v) was compared in an opened randomised trial including 40 children with cerebral malaria in Ibadan, Nigeria. They were 20 in each group with comparable admission parameters. Though the outcome of the disease was similar in both groups with a mortality rate of 10 % each and neurological deficits rate of 25 % in the i.v. group and 20 % in the i.m. group, the coma recovery time was faster in the i.v. group (43.4 + 27.2 vs 52.7 + 19.1 hrs). This was however not sustained as the fever clearance time was shorter in the i.m group and the parasite time were similar in both groups (50.4 + 17.0 vs 48.4 + 24.0 hrs).
With the mortality and morbidity similar in both groups, it is advocated that intramuscular quinine be used in the treatment of cerebral malaria in lower health care facilities with limited manpower and inadequate monitoring facilities.