Abstract :
In this study, the changes in prognostic indicators such as haemoglobin levels, serum lactate levels, liver function
tests, blood sugar levels and glassgow coma scale in patients of severe falciparum malaria treated with Artesunate
combination therapy and Quinine have been observed. One hundred patients of severe falciparum malaria were selected
from medicine indoor wards. The patients were randomly assigned to artesunate based combination therapy or quinine
based therapy. Prognostic parameters like haemoglobin, glasgow coma scale, serum lactates, liver function test and blood
sugar levels were monitored. The present study suggests that artesunate is an effective alternative to quinine in the treatment
of severe malaria.The mortality, incidence of posttreatment hypoglycemia, coma recovery time, time to normalization of
plasma lactate levels and liver function tests, variability in Haemoglobin were not found to be statistically significant.
Occurrence of hypoglycemia and hearing disturbances in quinine treatment group was found to be statistically significant
Keyword :
artesunate combination therapy, infectious disease, malaria, pharmacotherapy, quinine