Adverse reactions to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in Swedish travellers: Implications for prophylaxis

Abstract

Fansidar (500 mg sulphadoxine and 25 mg pyrimethamine tablets) has been widely use for malaria prophylaxis. The risk of severe cutaneous adverse reactions has been debated and, in particular, whether the high risk of such reactions among American travellers (1/5000-8000) compared with that among Swiss travellers (1/150000) might be explained by concomitant treatment with chloroquine. Our analysis suggests that there is also a high risk of severe cutaneous adverse reactions when Fansidar is used as monoprophylaxis. © 1987, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.