The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results.
A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 19 studies with a total of 2874 subjects with severe malaria.
Artemether versus quinine: for children there is probably little or no difference in the risk of death between intramuscular artemether and quinine. For adults, treatment with intramuscular artemether probably results in fewer deaths than treatment with quinine.
Artemether versus artesunate: no direct comparisons in children exist. For adults, mortality is probably higher with intramuscular artemether
These findings are consistent with the WHO recommendations that artesunate is the drug of choice, but artemether is acceptable when artesunate is not available.
Abstract and full text in Cochrane database http://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010678.pub3/full (licence for full text required)
Date of latest search: 7 September 2018
Primary/Secondary Keywords