Under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, a patient with microscopy-confirmed Plasmodium vivax malaria has completed chloroquine therapy. What radical treatment should be added to prevent relapse?
- A Primaquine 0.25 mg/kg body weight daily for 14 days ✓
- B Primaquine 0.75 mg/kg body weight as a single dose
- C Primaquine 0.5 mg/kg body weight daily for 7 days
- D Artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for 3 days
Correct answer: A. Primaquine 0.25 mg/kg body weight daily for 14 days
Explanation
P. vivax forms hypnozoites in the liver that cause relapse, so radical cure requires primaquine 0.25 mg/kg daily for 14 days after chloroquine. The 0.75 mg/kg single dose is the gametocytocide dose used in P. falciparum to block transmission, it does not clear hypnozoites. G6PD deficiency must be checked before giving the full 14-day course.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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