EARLY TREATMENT OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM CEREBRAL MALARIA WITH ARTEMISININ PER-OS

416 cases of P. falciparum cerebral malaria are treated with various anti-M drugs: mortality rate is 25 % with quinacrine, 12.3 %; quinine alone, and 10.1 % with quinine associated to sulfonamide. During 1991-1992, artemisinin per os is used in the early treatment of 21 cases of cerebral malaria, in according to propose a regimen practicable at primary health care units, where parenteral injection is sometimes unavailable: coma clearance after 14-21 hours in 100 %, fever clearance after 54-97 hours in 100 %, and parasite clearance in 100 % after 101 hours; no case of death is found.