E-DRUG: Use of Maloprim as malaria chemoprophylaxis (3)
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Pyrimethamine/dapsone (P/D) is still widely used in
Zimbabwe (brand and generic products available) and is
the recommended firstline prophylaxis. Concerns raised
about the bone marrow toxicity of the dapsone are
played down because it is believed (based on one
study) that the low dose used does not produce the
same incidence of agranulocytosis as has been shown in
other studies (but is still recognised as a risk
outweighed by the benefit of not getting malaria).
Some private physicians have voiced concerns about
resistance developing to P/D but, as far as I know,
this has not been studied by local research
organisations due to lack of a (simple) test for
dapsone resistance.
I have been out of Zimbabwe for 2 years so maybe
someone else can update us or give a more recent
perspective.
Douglas Ball