Observation of Malaria Treatment with Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine Combination at Primary Health Care.

OBJECTIVE

Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine (DHP) combination is the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in Indonesia and has been used since 2010. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of DHP combination for uncomplicated malaria treatment in a community-based evaluation.

METHODS

Recruitment was done by active or passive case detection. All uncomplicated malaria patients were treated with DHP once a day, for 3 days, administered orally (as is done in primary health care). Patients were followed up until day 28 post-treatment. The primary end point was a 28-day cure rate.

RESULTS

In this study, 484 subjects were screened through active and passive cases detection. A total of 45 subjects infected by P. vivax and 2 subjects infected by P. falciparum agreed to participate through written informed consent. There was no difference between clinical malaria and asymptomatic malaria in all analyzed characteristics. One patient had a D3 parasite density greater than 25% D0, although no parasites were found on the following day (D4). This study found 46 patients (97.9%) who had adequate clinical and parasitological responses. No adverse event was reported during the follow up of this study.

CONCLUSION

DHP was effective, safe, and well tolerated in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria at primary health care.