Primaquine

Primaquine

Primaquine (pronounced: pri-ma-kween) is an antimalarial drug used in the prevention and treatment of malaria. It is particularly effective against the Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale species of the malaria parasite, which have a dormant liver stage that can reactivate and cause a relapse of the disease.

Etymology

The term "Primaquine" is derived from its chemical name, 8-(4-amino-1-methylbutylamino)-6-methoxyquinoline. The "Prima-" prefix is a contraction of "primary", referring to its use as a primary treatment for malaria, and "-quine" is a common suffix for antimalarial drugs, derived from quinine, the first effective treatment for the disease.

Usage

Primaquine is used both for the prevention of malaria in travelers to areas where the disease is endemic, and for the treatment of cases of malaria caused by P. vivax or P. ovale. It is also used in combination with other antimalarial drugs to treat cases of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous species of the parasite.

Side Effects

Common side effects of Primaquine include nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. In rare cases, it can cause severe hemolytic anemia, particularly in individuals with a genetic deficiency in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD).

Related Terms

• Antimalarial drug
• Malaria
• Plasmodium vivax
• Plasmodium ovale
• Plasmodium falciparum
• Quinine
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
• Hemolytic anemia

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Primaquine
• Wikipedia's article - Primaquine

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