Warnings of drug-resistant malaria<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): With fear of a malaria outbreak
\nhigh on people's minds due to the climatic shift from the wet to
\nthe dry season, a scientist specializing malaria treatment warned
\nthat the common drugs used may no longer be effective in treating
\nthe illness.<\/p>\n
Gene mutation expert Syarifuddin cautioned that while there
\nhad yet to be indisputable evidence, there was a worrying trend
\nthat the medication normally used to treat malaria would be
\nineffective due to the resistance or gene mutation of the
\nbacteria.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin pointed out that this trend was based on an
\nassumption taken from a recent study conducted in several areas
\nacross the country which found that medication used for treating
\nmalaria was no longer effective.<\/p>\n
He mentioned areas in South Sulawesi, Central Java, Irian
\nJaya, East Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara where research had
\nfound that the usual malaria medication had not yielded maximum
\nresults.<\/p>\n
"The medication doesn't work anymore because the bacteria has
\nundergone gene mutation ... There is resistance once the medicine
\nis consumed by a human," Syarifuddin explained.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin said he arrived at the conclusion after thorough
\nresearch under the Eijkman Research Center and the America-
\nIndonesia Medical Resources (AIMR) using the method of biology
\nmolecular technique for malaria.<\/p>\n
"Almost 100 percent of malaria patients tested across the
\ncountry find their illness is resistant to croloquin (krolokuin)
\nwhich is made from quinine, because the malaria bacteria had also
\nundergone an almost 90 percent gene alteration," he explained.<\/p>\n
Besides gene mutation, irregular usage or an overdose of drugs
\nused to treat malaria is also a factor to people not responding
\nto the drugs, he said.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin suggested that the use of croloquin be combined
\nwith tetracycline to balance the bacteria's mutation process.
\n(27\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/warnings-of-drug-resistant-malaria-1447893297",
"image": ""
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