Evaluation of 4 artemisinin-based combinations for treating uncomplicated malaria in African children

To compare the safety and efficacy of 4 artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), i.e. amodiaquine-artesunate (AQ+AS), artemether-lumefantrine (AL), dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPQ), chlorproguanil-dapsone plus artesunate (CD-A), for single and repeat treatments of uncomplicated malaria in African children. Safety will be determined by registering adverse events and grading, laboratory, and vital signs evaluations. Their incidence will be compared between the different study arms.

SpecificTo evaluate the efficacy of the 4 ACTs for the treatment of children with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria (first active follow-up).To determine after the first active follow-up the incidence rate of a second clinical episode of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.To evaluate the efficacy of treating the second clinical episode of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria with the same ACT used for the first one (second active follow-up).To evaluate during the active and passive follow up the safety of the 4 ACTs for the treatment of children with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.To establish the impact of using CD-A on the selection of P. falciparum genotypes linked to SP resistance.