Effectiveness and Tolerability of the ASAQ versus AL Association in Children 6-59 Months for the Treatment of Uncomplicated P. falciparum Malaria in Massakory (Chad)

Background and Objective: Artemisinin-based combination therapies are the first-line antimalarial drugs used to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in many endemic countries worldwide. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of two fixed-dose formulations of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Chad. Methodology and Results: A two-arm single cohort study was conducted assessing the efficacy artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. This study was carried out from December 14, 2019 to March 14, 2020 at the Massakory I Health Center in Chad. Primary efficacy endpoint was day 28, parasitological cure rate. Secondary endpoints were parasite and fever clearance times and tolerability. A total of 113 patients were included, including 56 in the artesunate-amodiaquine arm and 57 in the artemether-lumefantrine arm. In intention to treat these patients, the Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response on day 28 were 100% for the two groups. No early treatment failure was observed. The drugs were well tolerated and no serious adverse events were noted. Conclusion: Both forms of Artemisinin-based combination therapy were still effective and safe in the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Chad. Further studies are warranted in different regions of Chad for monitoring of drug resistance.