This is not good news.
Each year, malaria claims the lives of over 600,000 people, with young children under five being the most vulnerable. Recent studies, however, have raised alarms about the increasing resistance of the malaria parasite to artemisinin, the primary treatment for the disease. A new study conducted in Uganda has shown partial resistance to artemisinin in children with severe malaria, marking a concerning development in the fight against the disease.
This research, presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene meeting and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to report signs of artemisinin resistance in African children with severe malaria. The study found that 11 out of 100 children treated for complicated malaria exhibited partial resistance, with treatment times also significantly extended compared to typical outcomes. These children, aged between 6 months and 12 years, had symptoms like anemia and brain complications, which are linked to more severe forms of malaria.
A particularly troubling aspect of the study was that 10 children who were initially thought to have recovered experienced a relapse of malaria within 28 days, suggesting that the parasite was not fully eradicated by the treatment. Genetic analysis revealed that the parasites in these children carried mutations associated with resistance, similar to those found in Southeast Asia, where artemisinin resistance has been more prevalent.
Additionally, the study found that many of the children were also treated with lumefantrine, a drug that is often used alongside artemisinin. However, even with this combination therapy, many of the children experienced a recurrence of the disease, raising concerns that the parasite might be developing resistance to lumefantrine as well.
Researchers are alarmed by the early signs of drug resistance, as it suggests the malaria parasite is evolving faster than anticipated. Dr. Chandy John, one of the study’s co-authors, emphasized the seriousness of this development, noting that the discovery of resistance before they actively searched for it was a troubling sign. This discovery underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and research to stay ahead of potential resistance and continue the fight against malaria.
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