PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
ED  - ,
TI  - Artemisinins in malaria treatment in the UK
AID  - 10.1136/dtb.2010.11.0057
DP  - 2010 Nov 01
TA  - Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
PG  - 129--132
VI  - 48
IP  - 11
4099  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/48/11/129.short
4100  - http://dtb.bmj.com/content/48/11/129.full
SO  - Drug Ther Bull2010 Nov 01; 48
AB  - Relevant BNF section: BNF 5.4.1 Malaria is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by protozoal parasites of the genus Plasmodium.1 2 It is mainly a problem in developing countries, and cases in the UK involve travellers coming from endemic areas.2 Resistance is increasing to several antimalarial drugs (e.g. chloroquine, mefloquine, antifolates).1 3 4 Another group of drugs, known as artemisinins, have come into widespread use more recently.1 5 6 An oral artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) is now one of the standard licensed treatments for uncomplicated malaria in the UK.7 8 However, the parenteral artemisinin for severe malaria, artesunate, is not licensed in developed countries.9 Here we consider the role of artemisinins as treatment for malaria in the UK.