Efficacy and safety of Dihydroartemisinine-piperaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and chloroquine for Plasmodium vivax in Homalin (Sagaing Division), Lashio (Shan State) and Bokepyin (Tanintharyi Division).

All patients are over 13 years of age. For patients with plasmodium falciparum malaria dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine will be administered 2-2.4/16-19.2 mg/kg (Body weight will be recorded on day 0 to the nearest kilogram on a Salter scale. Patients should not wear excessive clothing while being weighed as this can overestimate their true weight. The screening weight will be used to satisfy the inclusion or exclusion for nutrition status as well as to calculate the dose (number of tablets) to be administered) once a day orally for 3 days. Less than 18 kgs will be given one tablet per day. Less than 29 kgs will be given 1 and a half tablets per day, less than 39 kgs will be given 2 tablets per day and over 40 Kgs will be given three tablets per day. Each tablet contains 40mg dihydroartemisinin and 320mg piperaquine phosphate. For patients with P. vivax malaria will be administered with chloroquine 10 mg, 10 mg and 5 mg per kg orally on day 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Enrolled patients will be observed for at least 30 min after treatment to ensure that they do not vomit the medicine. If vomiting occurs within 30 min of treatment, the full treatment dose will be repeated. Thereafter, patients are required to undergo regular clinical reassessment. Blood films for parasite counts will be made on days 2, 3 and 7 and then weekly for the remainder of the follow-up period, i.e. on days 14, 21, 28.