Dose of chloroquine for prophylaxis against vivax malaria: September 2012
Chloroquine works by accumulating in the food vacuoles of the parasite and inhibiting hemozoin formation, which leads to the accumulation of toxic heme. For prophylaxis, the usual regimen is a weekly dose. The standard adult dose is 500 mg of chloroquine phosphate once a week, starting before entering the endemic area, during the stay, and for four weeks after leaving. But I should check if there are any exceptions for P. vivax. Wait, P. vivax has a dormant liver stage (hypnozoites), so primaquine is also needed for radical cure, but prophylaxis with chloroquine alone doesn't address that. However, the question is about prophylaxis, so maybe the answer is the same as for falciparum.
Wait, the options are missing, but the correct answer is supposed to be the weekly dose. Let me confirm: the weekly dose for chloroquine prophylaxis is 500 mg. So the correct answer would be the option stating that. The incorrect options might include a higher dose, a different frequency, or a different drug. For example, if an option says 1000 mg weekly, that's too much. Or if it's daily dosing, that's incorrect. Also, maybe confusion with primaquine's dose. The clinical pearl here is remembering the weekly 500 mg for chloroquine, and the need for primaquine to prevent relapses due to hypnozoites.
**Core Concept**
Chloroquine prophylaxis for malaria involves weekly dosing to maintain therapeutic levels against Plasmodium species. *Plasmodium vivax* requires additional primaquine to target hypnozoites in the liver, but chloroquine alone is effective for blood-stage prevention.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The standard weekly dose of chloroquine phosphate for malaria prophylaxis is **500 mg base equivalent** (300 mg chloroquine base). This dose inhibits hemozoin formation in erythrocytic stages of the parasite, preventing replication. Compliance with weekly dosing ensures sustained drug levels to block *P. vivax* and other species. For *P. vivax*, primaquine is added post-exposure to eradicate liver-stage hypnozoites, but chloroquine alone suffices for blood-stage prophylaxis.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Assuming 250 mg weekly*—Insufficient to achieve therapeutic concentrations; subtherapeutic dosing allows parasite resistance.
**Option B:** *Assuming 500 mg daily*—Excessive and risks toxicity (e.g., retinopathy, cardiotoxicity).
**Option D:** *Assuming 1000 mg weekly*—Double the standard dose; unnecessary and hazardous.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
**"Week