[Halofantrine hydrochloride in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a region of resistance. Analysis of 54 pediatric cases].

54 children (mean age: 43 months), with initial parasitemia up to 1,000 Plasmodium falciparum isolates per mm3, were treated with halofantrine hydrochloride 8 mg/kg twice daily at 6 hours intervals. 35 of these 54 children had received unsuccessful chloroquine and/or quinine treatment during 15 days before admission to the trial. Fever, which was observed in 52 of the children, and parasitemia disappeared respectively 18 hours and 37 hours after initial administration of the drug (mean values). Clinical and biological tolerance was excellent for all patients. Halofantrine is a new precious alternative for the treatment of malaria in regions with extensive multi-drug resistant strains of Plasmodium.