Once-Daily Combination Therapy for Uncomplicated Malaria: Is This the Way Forward?

There are several problems associated with treatment of malaria especially in sub-Saharan Africa: effectiveness access (financial and physical) safety and tolerability and adherence. Even in an ideal situation in which the first 3 factors are not a problem adherence would still be problematic especially when dealing with rural populations in developing countries where relief of symptoms of malaria is often interpreted as “cure” and where there is therefore great reluctance to continue taking the rest of the medication as prescribed. Adherence has been defined as “the extent to which a patient fulfills the intention of the prescriber in taking medication.” Several drug-associated factors may affect adherence including appropriateness of the prescription side effects dose regimen drug presentation and formulation number of drugs prescribed concurrently and duration of treatment. (excerpt)