Blog 11: Drug therapy can cut malaria infections

About 30 percent  of  malaria infections can be lessened by antimalarial drugs over a 12-month period. This trial was taken place in Papua New Guinea represented the drug regime  was effective against both Plasmodium falciparum and  plasmodium vivax malaria. The treatment regime is known as intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) protected the infants against malaria for atleast six weeks.  South-East Asia and South America will soon include the use of IPT since malaria is a huge social problem there.  In sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria causes 80 percents of death, ITP has been used for number of years to lessen the malaria. Professor Mueller stated that Plasmodium vivax is the main cause of clinical malaria in infants outside of Africa. IPT includes short courses of antimalarial drugs to provide protection against malaria infection. The trial SP-AQ treatment reduced  infection by 30 percent for Plasmodium falciparum and 23 percent for Plasmodium vivax. These figures are remarkably impressive  due to the use of drugs.
The use of IPT is a great idea to reduce the malaria problem globally. In Africa, where more than 80 percent people dies from malaria, the use of IPT lessened the death rate. IPT is a cheap and easy way to decrease the malaria in those most susceptible to clinical illness. People in other countries where malaria is so common, they need to take responsibility to get IPT so they can lessen the malaria and solve the social problem globally.  Malaria is also a  serious issue in South East Asia and South America so these countries definitely need to get IPT before Malaria increased rapidly.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-03/health/31280451_1_pyrimethamine-malaria-infections-antimalarial-drugs