ASSOCIATION OF CHLOROQUINE AND PROGUANIL FOR PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS IN FRENCH SOLDIERS STAYING IN A HIGH PREVALENCE OF CHLOROQUINE RESISTANCE AREA (GABON)

Since 1989, in a first step, the personal protection measures were reinforced. Thereafter, the usual chemoprophylaxis (chloroquine 100 mg daily) was replaced by a daily association of chloroquine 100 mg and proguanil 200 mg. A 85 % decrease of malaria incidence was observed in 431 soldiers. The effects of the personal protection strengthening and of the new chemoprophylaxis can be evaluated to be respectively responsible for 50 % and 71 % decrease. Among the secondary effects, gastric pain was the most frequent, but it was never a cause of chemoprophylaxis stopping. The mouth ulcer frequency was far lower than that elsewere reported. No significant biological abnormalities could be related to the chloroquine-proguanil association.