Assessment of drug resistance to the malaria parasite in residents of Kampala, Uganda
Mutanda, L.N.
East African Medical Journal 76(8): 421-424
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 10520345 Document Number: 502049
Patients (n=268) complaining of fever, back ache and headache or general malaise and body joint pains and those who could recall their previous treatment for the current complaints and could show laboratory reports indicating presence of malaria parasites were included in a study in Uganda from 1994-1997. Blood was examined for malaria parasites. 27%, 26%, 12%, 11%, 6%, 6% and 5% of 268 isolates were resistant to chloroquine, quinine, metakelfin , respectively. Of 86 double drug-resistant isolates, 21% were resistant to chloroquine and quinine, 16% to chloroquine and fansidar and 10% to quinine and fansidar. Of 71 multiple drug-resistant isolates, 12.6% exhibited resistance to chloroquine, quinine and fansidar. RIII was observed in 17 strains: 8 for chloroquine, 4 for fansidar and 3 for quinine. 26 patients had frequent recurrences of malaria lasting for over a year. It is concluded that one-third of Plasmodium falciparum strains by 1997 had acquired resistance to chloroquine and quinine and some gradually acquired multi-drug resistance.