Qualitative evaluation of antimalarial syrups found in Douala

Malaria is a real public health problem worldwide, and in Cameroon in particular, with children aged 0 to 5 years the most affected. An analytical study was carried out on 100 samples taken from health facilities, wholesale distributors and illicit distribution markets in the various districts of the city of Douala. The results of the analyses showed an overall non-compliance rate of 77%, with the informal sector being the most represented, with 92% of its samples non-compliant, compared with 62% in the formal sector. At the end of this study, it emerged that the oral liquid antimalarial drugs marketed in the city of Douala are mostly of poor quality, which may have several origins (poor preservation, absence of active ingredients, physico-chemical instability, etc.). Faced with similar results, the WHO recommends the use of dispersible tablets for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in children, at least to overcome the problem of physico-chemical stability.