In a major milestone, Swiss authorities have approved Coartem Baby, the first-ever malaria treatment specifically designed for babies and very young children.
About Coartem Baby:
It is a new drug specifically designed for infants weighing 2–5 kg(newborns to under 6 months) which has formulation of artemether and lumefantrine — that work together to fight the malaria parasite.
It is developed by Novartis, in collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and the governments of Britain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the World Bank, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
Previously, infants have used formulations meant for older children, increasing the risk of overdose.
Eight African countries—Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda—participated in the assessment and clinical trials of Coartem Baby.
Advantages of Coartem Baby: The formulation is designed to dissolve easily, including in breast milk, has a sweet cherry flavour to ease administration.
Key facts about Malaria:
It is a life-threatening febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The disease is not contagious, but can be spread through infected blood or contaminated needles.
The most dangerous species are Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.
Symptoms and Risks
Symptoms appear 10–15 days after infection and include fever, chills, and headache.
Severe symptoms can include seizures, difficulty breathing, jaundice, dark urine, and death if untreated.
Partial immunity can develop in endemic regions, making diagnosis difficult in some patients.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
