In a randomised double blind study 122 volunteers living in an endemic malarious area in Amazonian Rondonia State were divided into 4 groups to study malaria supression. The first group received 500mg of mefloquine every month, group II 250mg every two weeks, group III a tablet of Fansidar (500mg sulphadoxine + 25mg pyrimethamine) a week and group IVplacebo. Acute attacks of malaria occured in one individual in group I, 2 subject in group II, and 6 individuals in groups 111 e IV. Protection with mefloquine was significant compared with the placebo group. Both treatment regimens with mefloquine were effective supressants in an area of high prevalence of drug multiresistant Plasmodium falciparum transmission.
Malaria; Mefloquine; Chemoprophylaxis