TY - JOUR T1 - Factors associated with chloroquine induced pruritus during malaria treatment in Mozambican University students JO - Gaceta Sanitaria T2 - AU - Gama,Helena AU - Ismael,Aldo AU - Sitoi,Felicidade AU - Matola,André AU - Barros,Henrique AU - Lunet,Nuno SN - 02139111 M3 - 10.1016/j.gaceta.2008.07.004 DO - 10.1016/j.gaceta.2008.07.004 UR - https://www.gacetasanitaria.org/es-factors-associated-with-chloroquine-induced-articulo-S0213911108000186 AB - IntroductionIt has been suggested that reductions in chloroquine use may be followed by a resurgence of chloroquine-susceptible falciparum malaria, and chloroquine might once again be an effective treatment choice, which renews the importance of aspects related to its use and misuse. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of chloroquine-induced pruritus and to identify risk factors for its occurrence in Mozambican University students.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at a private University in Maputo. Students were approached in the classrooms to complete a self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, number of previous malaria episodes, utilization of antimalarial drugs, and life prevalence of chloroquine induced pruritus.ResultsAmong 795 respondents, 77.4% (601/777) reported at least one malaria episode and 73.2% (542/740) had used chloroquine before. The life-prevalence of chloroquine-induced pruritus was 30.1% (158/525). Pruritus tended to be more frequent when chloroquine was used for treatment compared with prophylaxis only (31.2% vs. 10.3%, p<0.05), and chloroquine use in the last malaria episode was less frequent in participants recalling chloroquine-induced pruritus (52.3% vs. 65.1%, p<0.05).ConclusionAbout one third of the black population using chloroquine experienced chloroquine-induced pruritus at least once. This adverse reaction tended to be less frequent when lower doses of chloroquine were used and to influence future anti-malarial therapeutic choices. ER -