Primaquine and Hydroxychloroquine uses in malaria. (Essay Sample)

Primaquine and Hydroxychloroquine Use in Malaria Author Institution of affiliation Primaquine and Hydroxychloroquine Use in Malaria Malaria disease is caused by four species of the Plasmodium microorganisms; Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax. The disease has a potential for fatality and its treatment should be commenced as soon as the disease sets in. The treatment agents have different points of action in the period of the disease and also on the parasite’s life cycle. The anti-malarial drug primaquine is used for the radical treatment of malaria in cases of Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax CITATION Pro12 \l 1033 (Proctor & Byrne, 2012). It is however not used in the treatment of clinical acute cases of malaria. Primaquine has a forceful gametocidal action against malarial parasites in all forms but lacks schizonticidal action. Its action is directly on the DNA’s preformed nucleic acid in the microorganism CITATION Min13 \l 1033 (Mini, 2013). However, it is unknown on the mechanism that primaquine uses in anti-malarial action. The drug is indicated and used in treating relapsing P. vivax malaria and eradicates the infection, symptoms and prevents relapse. In the treatment of P. falciparum malaria primaquine is less effective. The use of primaquine in normal treatment doses is tolerated well. Use in larger than normal doses causes vomiting, abdominal cramps, nausea, headache and hepatic damage. The rare adverse effects that occur rarely are agranulocytosis, leukopenia and cardiac arrhythmias CITATION Min13 \l 1033 \m Pro12 (Mini, 2013; Proctor & Byrne, 2012). Hydroxychloroquine is used to control malaria caused by P. malariae, P. vivax, P ovale and the strains of P. falciparum that are more susceptible to it. In most cases, it is used for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis CITATION Arc06 \l 1033 (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2006). Hydroxychloroquine’s mechanism of action is that it prevents the replication of the parasite’s DNA and transcription to RNA by combining with the DNA to form co...