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By ULY CLINIC

 

Intermittent Preventive Treatment In Pregnancy (IPTP)

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Introduction

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Malaria parasites can easily accumulate and multiply in the placenta leading to placenta malaria infections, resulting to complications such as maternal anaemia, low birth weight, premature delivery, congenital infection and/or perinatal death.

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Note: IPTp is an administration of antimalarial in full therapeutic doses at predetermined intervals during pregnancy to individuals with no signs/symptoms of malaria. The aim is to prevent above mentioned complications with adverse effects to both mother and fetus 

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The medicine of choice for IPT

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Sulphadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP). Give SP tablet strength 500 mg Sulphadoxine, 25 mg Pyrimethamine.

 

Dosage:

  • The dose is 3 tablets once

  • A minimum of 3 doses of Sulphadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP) in entire pregnancy period 

  • The first IPTp-SP dose should be administered from 14 weeks of pregnancy onwards

  • Each SP dose should be given at least 4 weeks apart

  • The last dose of IPTp with SP can be administered up to the time of delivery, without safety concerns 

 

Note: 

  • SP should not be administered to women receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis or pregnant women who are taking folic acid at a daily dose equal or above 5 mg, as counteracts its efficacy

  • SP can be administered safely with combined ferrous sulphate 200 mg + folic acid 0.25 mg (FeFo)

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If malaria is diagnosed to a scheduled pregnant woman for IPT with SP; SP should not be given, instead a full treatment with antimalarial should be given    

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Updated on, 30.10.2020

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References

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1. STG

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