Tolerability and Safety of Primaquine in Papua New Guinean Children 1 to 10 Years of Age

Abstract

ABSTRACTPrimaquine is currently the only drug available for radical cure ofPlasmodium vivaxandP. ovaleliver infection stages, but limited safety data exist for children <10 years of age. Detailed daily assessments of side effects in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-normal children treated with 14 days of primaquine plus chloroquine (3 days;n= 252) or artesunate (7 days;n= 141) (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) showed that both treatments are well tolerated, do not lead to reductions in hemoglobin levels, and can thus safely be used in children 1 to 10 years of age.