Since resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to SP is increasing rapidly in Africa and there is evidence that SP monotherapy induce gametocytaemia, we hypothesize that the combination quinine/SP increases SP efficacy and prevents induction of gametocytaemia. In addition, since the use of the full course of quinine therapy may be hampered by many factors (hospital cost, hospitalisation duration, availability of beds, compliance and side effects), the addition of the long acting SP to complete a short course of quinine treatment may prevent recrudescence or reinfection and may increase effectiveness of malaria treatment and reduce postdischarge morbidity.