Bark, weeds, and iron chelators - drugs for malaria

Article Abstract:

Malaria is a disease characterized by the infection of red blood cells by the parasite Plasmodium. A research study found that iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine may be an effective treatment in combination with other drugs for children with cerebral malaria. Malaria is a disease that has affected humans for thousands of years. Many centuries ago, humans started treating malaria with extracts from cinchona bark or wormwood. Quinine is the anti-malarial substance in cinchona bark and qinghaosu is that found in wormwood. Synthetic drugs have been developed to treat malaria. These have been less effective than natural substances because the malaria parasite often becomes resistant to them. Deferoxamine inhibits the growth of the malaria parasite by interfering with its ability to use the iron in the patient's red blood cells. It may be particularly effective in treating the neurological complications of malaria, but further research is needed in regards to its antimalarial activity.

Editorial, Pediatric diseases, Children, Drug therapy, Diseases, Coma, Coma (Medicine), Deferoxamine

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Malaria chemoprophylaxis for the traveler

Article Abstract:

Clinicians need to become more aware of the risks and benefits of prophylactic treatments for malaria as travel increases to regions where malaria is present. Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes. Chloroquine has long been used for prevention, but there are now strains of malaria-causing parasites that are resistant to chloroquine. Infection with strains of Plasmodium (P.) falciparum that are chloroquine-resistant can cause death in severe cases. P. ovale, P. vivax and P. malariae can cause milder bouts of malaria. Malaria can be prevented by minimizing exposure to mosquitoes or by eradicating the organism from the blood. Relapse can be prevented by destroying the latent organism present in the liver. The most commonly used drugs include chloroquine, primaquine, mefloquine, doxycycline and chloroguanide hydrochloride.

Travel

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Delayed onset of malaria -- implications for chemoprophylaxis in travelers

Article Abstract:

Many malaria drugs that are taken to prevent malaria may not be effective in the long term, according to a study of 1,121 Americans and Israelis who developed malaria more than two months after returning from another country. Sixty-two percent of the Americans and 81% of the Israelis had taken malaria drugs to prevent malaria before or during their travel. Unfortunately, most malaria drugs only kill the parasite when it is in the blood. Once it reaches the liver, these drugs may not be effective.

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing, Antimalarial & Antifungal Preps, Evaluation

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