A case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria successfully treated with halofantrine

Abstract

A 44-year-old male, who had been to Lagos, Nigeria, was admitted to our hospital because of a high grade fever on July 20, 1993. On admission, Plasmodium falciparum was detected in his blood smears and the antibody titers against P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax antigens were 1:256 and < 1:4 respectively by the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Therefore, he was diagnosed as having P. falciparum malaria. He was treated with halofantrine (Halfan: Smith Kline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, England), two tablets at six-hourly intervals, a total of six tablets (1500 mg). Parasites were cleared rapidly and remission was achieved without any adverse reactions. Halofantrine can therefore be recommended for the treatment of imported P. falciparum malaria.