Malaria N° 4 - Subject N° 3

CHILDHOOD MALARIA IN A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT: THE USE OF CHEMOTHERAPY IN FEBRILE ATTACKS
S.M. Oulai, B.M . J. Tanon, K.J. Plo, M. Niangue-Beugre, M. Orega, M. Soro-Kone & J. Andoh

SUMMARY
In a transverse study of antiplasmodial antibodies in children aged from 0 to 12 months, the authors define the high risk age range for malarial mortality and question the real efficacy of chemotherapy in febrile attacks in the tropics. Mothers transmit IgG antibodies to their new-born infants. But this transmission is irregular and transient.
Mothers do not transmit IgM type antibodies which start to appear in the infant from the age of 4 to 5 months onwards.
There is a period without immunity (4 months to 4 years) during which artificial protection of the infant is necessary.
Chemotherapy for febrile attacks is currently recommanded because it induces less resistance, safeguards the acquisition of natural immunity and results in better patient compliance. But alone is not enough and it must be accompanied by a better approach to the diagnosis of malaria and an increase in the use of insecticide impregnated mosquito nets.

KEY WORDS: Chemotherapy, Chemoprophylaxis, Antimalarial immunity, Malaria