Drawback of aesunate is:: (A) Poor bioavailability, (B) Rapid recrudescence of malaria, (C) Hypoglycemia, (D) Hemolysis
Answer is B. Because aemisinins are sho acting drugs, monotherapy needs to be extended beyond the disappearance of the parasites to prevent recrudescence. After 5 days treatment recrudescence rate is -10%, while with a 3 day course it is -50%. Recrudescence can be totally prevented by combining 3 day aesunate/aemether with a long acting drug ESSENTIALS OF MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY page no. 830