Efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in northwest Cambodia.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine malaria treatment, as an alternative to artesunate + mefloquine, which is becoming ineffective in some areas of the Thai-Cambodian border.

Methods: Two studies were conducted to monitor the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine in Sampov Lun referral hospital, Battambang Province, in 2002 and 2003, and one study was conducted to assess the efficacy of mefloquine + artesunate in 2003 for comparison. The studies were performed according to the WHO standardized protocol with a follow-up of 28 days.

Surveillance of the efficacy of artesunate and mefloquine combination for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Cambodia.

Artesunate and mefloquine combination treatment has been used since 2000 in Cambodia as the first-line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. In order to assess its efficacy and safety, the national malaria control programme conducted 14 therapeutic efficacy studies with the drug combination between 2001 and 2004 at nine sites. In 2001 and 2002, co-blister packs of artesunate and mefloquine were used, whereas in 2003 and 2004, drugs were given individually from a bulk pack at a total dose of 12 mg/kg of artesunate and 25 mg/kg of mefloquine over 3 days.