African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Efficacy of Chloroquine in Treating Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Northwestern Nigeria

Bello SO1,2 *, Muhammad BY1, Bello AY3, Ukatu AI4, Ahmad BM5, Adeneye AA1,6, Cherima JY7

1Department of Pharmacology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
2Karaye Hospital, P.O.Box 1522, Sokoto, Nigeria.
3Sokoto Specialist hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.
4Mayo Clinic and Maternity, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria.
5Women and Child Welfare Clinic, Sokoto, Nigeria.
6General Hospital, Tanghaza, Nigeria.

7General Hospital Wurno, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 19 January, 2025

The pattern of infection and in vivo response of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria to Chloroquine as first line drug and Quinine, Halofantrine or Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine as second line medications was evaluated at nested sentinel points, including Government and Private Practices, for three consecutive months. 559 cases were evaluated of which 22.5% failed on Chloroquine therapy. The age range of P. falciparum malaria cases was 4 months to 48 years, with a mean and median age of 9.2 and 3 years, respectively. There were significantly more female patients than male. Also, ages 5 years and below accounted for 63.2% of cases and as a group had an increased risk of treatment failure with Chloroquine compared to older patients. In general, male patients also had a higher relative risk of treatment failure on Chloroquine. Patients treated in Government practices were more likely to fail than those treated in Private practices. All cases of failure to Chloroquine treatment responded to Quinine, Halofantrine or Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine.

Key words: Plasmodium falciparum malaria, Chloroquine, resistance.