Evaluation of Arthemether-Lumefantrine Effectiveness in Malaria Treatment in Nnewi, Nigeria

As an acute and chronic mosquito-borne disease of man, malaria is characterized by chills and fever, anaemia, splenomegaly and damage to other vital organs such as liver and brain. With reportedly increasing incidence of its lethargy in sub-Sahara Africa, current study was thus designed to investigate the effectiveness of one of malaria’s management pharmacological variety, Arthemether-Lumefantrine amongst residents of Nnewi community of Anambra State, Nigeria. Hundred (100) human subjects from the General Outpatients Department (GOPD) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, who showed signs and symptoms of malaria, were recruited for the study. After gaining subjects’ consent and co-operation, Artemether-Lumefantrine combination (combination therapy) was then orally administered to the patients; with Blood samples collected 10 min before, and on days 4, 8, 10 and 14 after drug administration. Efficacy evaluation of parasitological cure rates was also determined after the 14th day. In addition to cure rate, fever clearance time (FCT), as the time from drug administration till axillary temperature fell below 37.5oC and remained so for at least 48 hours was also determined. In any case, obtained data were analysed using appropriate descriptive statistical (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage). The Chi square distribution test was performed to ascertain the goodness of fit of obtained variables. p-value was determined at 95% confidence interval, with significance level set at p < 0.05. Upon analysis, Study found after treatment at day 4, that cure rate for patients <16 years (paediatrics) was 52%, with those >16 years (adults) being 72%. On day 8 after treatment, cure rates for patients <16 years (paediatrics) was 89%, while that of those >16 years (adults) was 94%, while on day 10 and 14 the cure rate for patients <16 years became 98% while that of those >16 years was 100%.