Open AccessAntimalarial drug resistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Author(s) -
Abdel-Hameed Aa
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2003.9.4.492
Subject(s) - resistance (ecology) , drug resistance , malaria , chloroquine , sulfadoxine , pyrimethamine , medicine , isolation (microbiology) , biology , bioinformatics , immunology , genetics , ecology
Studies done between 1997 and 2003 are reviewed to give an overall picture of antimalarial drug resistance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization [WHO]. The situation in 8 countries where resistance has been reported is detailed. It has been difficult to abandon chloroquine as first-line treatment even though resistance to it is widespread. Resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has also been detected. The spread of resistance could be slowed down by the adoption of effective national policies and control programmes. Coordination between counties and with other WHO regions, as opposed to working in isolation, could further reduce the spread of resistance.