Primaquine is an oral medication prescribed to individuals who have been diagnosed with malaria. There are several different strains of malaria, and this medication has been effective in the treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria; this is the most common type of the illness and is often caught in the tropical areas of Latin America and Asia. This drug has also been found to help prevent the relapse of the disease.
Most medical professionals will prescribe primaquine in addition to another form of medication. A drug called chloroquine phosphate has been shown to be effective in killing the malaria virus that has infected an individual's red blood cells. The parasites that are responsible for causing illness reproduce in the tissues of the body, however, which chloroquine phosphate does not treat. Before the creation of primaquine, those who contracted P. vivax malaria could expect multiple relapses and treatments.
The organisms that primaquine attacks are those that multiply outside of the blood stream and in other bodily tissues. This allows primaquine to work with the other medication to completely eradicate the virus throughout the system. Malaria parasites are commonly found in such organs as the liver and can hibernate there for years before reproducing and sending the body into a relapse. Both medications are usually prescribed at the same time and take about two weeks to cleanse the body completely and help ensure there is no relapse. Since P. vivax malaria can incubate within the body before the initial outbreak of the disease as well as after symptoms have manifested themselves, it is crucial to completely eradicate even the hibernating parasites to completely cure the disease.
Some of the side effects of primaquine are similar to the symptoms of malaria. Both can cause flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and cramping, throughout the gastrointestinal system. Pre-existing conditions should be disclosed before taking the medication, as in some cases they can make the side effects worse.
Since the medications attack the red blood cells, some individuals may develop a form of anemia called hemolytic anemia. This occurs when the body cannot produce enough new blood cells to replace the ones that have been infected and destroyed. There may also be a temporary drop in the number of white blood cells present in the blood stream. Many medical professionals will order blood tests throughout treatment to ensure proper levels are maintained.