Radical Cure of Chesson Strain Vivax Malaria in Man by 7, Not 14, Days of Treatment with Primaquine

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-normal adult volunteers infected with mosquito-bone Chesson strain vivax malaria were treated with chloroquine and primaquine during the initial attack. Administration of 60 mg (base) of primaquine daily for 7 days was as effective in preventing relapse as is the regimen customarily used for the radical cure of infections produced by this strain, namely, 30 mg daily for 14 days. However, it is stressed that because of the risk of primaquine-induced hemolysis in individuals having genetically-transmitted erythrocyte abnormalities this high dosage should not be used routinely.