Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India
<p>Abstract</p> <p>The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of the Ministry of Health, Government of India is reporting about 2 million parasite positive cases each year, although case incidence is 30-fold or more under-estimated. Forty five to fifty percent of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2007-08-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/6/1/105 |
| _version_ | 1828391522952806400 |
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| author | Sharma Vinod P |
| author_facet | Sharma Vinod P |
| author_sort | Sharma Vinod P |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of the Ministry of Health, Government of India is reporting about 2 million parasite positive cases each year, although case incidence is 30-fold or more under-estimated. Forty five to fifty percent of Plasmodium infections are caused by <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>, the killer parasite. Anti-malaria drug policy (2007) of the NVBDC recommends chloroquine (CQ) as the first line of drug for the treatment of all malarias. In a Primary Health Centre (PHC) reporting 10% or more cases of CQ resistance in <it>P. falciparum</it>, ACT blister pack is recommended and, so far, the policy has been adopted in 261 PHCs of 71 districts. The NVBDCP still depends on CQ to combat malaria and, as a result, <it>P. falciparum </it>has taken deep roots in malaria-endemic regions, causing unacceptable levels of morbidity and mortality. This policy was a subject of criticism in recent Nature and Lancet articles questioning the World Bank's decision to supply CQ to the NVBDCP. Continuation of an outdated drug in the treatment of <it>P. falciparum </it>is counterproductive in fighting drug resistant malaria and in the containment of <it>P. falciparum</it>. Switchover to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) in the treatment of all <it>P. falciparum </it>cases, ban on artemisinin monotherapy and effective vector control (treated nets/efficient insecticide spraying) would be a rational approach to malaria control in India.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:03:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-538216e7a3dd46c7ba9ef995601d2d06 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:03:31Z |
| publishDate | 2007-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-538216e7a3dd46c7ba9ef995601d2d062022-12-22T01:58:14ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752007-08-016110510.1186/1475-2875-6-105Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in IndiaSharma Vinod P<p>Abstract</p> <p>The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) of the Ministry of Health, Government of India is reporting about 2 million parasite positive cases each year, although case incidence is 30-fold or more under-estimated. Forty five to fifty percent of Plasmodium infections are caused by <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>, the killer parasite. Anti-malaria drug policy (2007) of the NVBDC recommends chloroquine (CQ) as the first line of drug for the treatment of all malarias. In a Primary Health Centre (PHC) reporting 10% or more cases of CQ resistance in <it>P. falciparum</it>, ACT blister pack is recommended and, so far, the policy has been adopted in 261 PHCs of 71 districts. The NVBDCP still depends on CQ to combat malaria and, as a result, <it>P. falciparum </it>has taken deep roots in malaria-endemic regions, causing unacceptable levels of morbidity and mortality. This policy was a subject of criticism in recent Nature and Lancet articles questioning the World Bank's decision to supply CQ to the NVBDCP. Continuation of an outdated drug in the treatment of <it>P. falciparum </it>is counterproductive in fighting drug resistant malaria and in the containment of <it>P. falciparum</it>. Switchover to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) in the treatment of all <it>P. falciparum </it>cases, ban on artemisinin monotherapy and effective vector control (treated nets/efficient insecticide spraying) would be a rational approach to malaria control in India.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/6/1/105 |
| spellingShingle | Sharma Vinod P Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India Malaria Journal |
| title | Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India |
| title_full | Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India |
| title_fullStr | Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India |
| title_short | Battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in India |
| title_sort | battling the malaria iceberg with chloroquine in india |
| url | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/6/1/105 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sharmavinodp battlingthemalariaicebergwithchloroquineinindia |