Intramuscular quinine can result in permanent injury
Due to the widespread problem of malaria in the country and its resistance to first and second level treament, many clinics have now
By Pere Thomas
Due to the widespread problem of malaria in the country and its resistance to first and second level treament, many clinics have now resorted to the use of quinine as a first level medication.
But quinine is a third level malaria drug supposed to be given in a hospital when first and second level drugs have failed.
improper administering of quinine injection destroys the muscles of the buttocks and may lead to permanent paralysis (lameness).
Dr Edward Naddumba, senior consultant surgeon at the orthopaedic department, Mulago hospital says that injected quinine is dangerous if given undiluted on the buttocks. It has toxic effects on nerves and muscles leading to the development of necrosis (death of tissue), he says. He said many people are usually taken to the department to be treated for paralysis, nerve and muscle damage from undiluted quinine injection.
He said unfortunately few recover from the paralysis. a good number remain permanently lame have to undergo an operation to correct the deformities.
He said whoever administers quinine injection should have it diluted 1:10 and administer it through the vein.
Over the years, the ministry of health has been changing the formula of dilution. however, this has been followed by few medical practioners, says Dr Were Award. He further said many people dilute it but not in the right ratio.
Doctors and nurses are finding it difficult to follow the recommendation by the health ministry to give quinine injection through the veins. One such doctor said many patients fear when they see the needle being driven into their flesh. They prefer not to see it and that is why the doctors still inject patients on the buttocks.
Godfrey Asimwe, a parent whose daughter suffered from quinine paralysis, when asked what he thinks about quinine injection, said he no longer uses it for his children and prefers tablets.
Sidney Ogwal, a pharmacist at the department of pharmacy, Makerere medical school, said problems associated with quinine injection come due to irrational use of the drug. He said a lot of people do self- medication nowadays and fake quinine on the market cannot be ruled out.
Ogwal further said there are very many people who give injections, yet they are not qualified to.
Jacinto Amadua, commissioner clinical at the ministry of health, says quinine injection should not be given except under hospital condition. And it should be given intravenously (through veins) but not through muscles.
He says it should be given under supervision of a qualified health worker.
Most people still administer quinine injection on the buttocks and do not know that improper dilution with distilled water is harmful. The Ministry of health needs to sensitise the public about the matter and take action on those who do not comply.
Due to the widespread problem of malaria in the country and its resistance to first and second level treament, many clinics have now resorted to the use of quinine as a first level medication.
But quinine is a third level malaria drug supposed to be given in a hospital when first and second level drugs have failed.
improper administering of quinine injection destroys the muscles of the buttocks and may lead to permanent paralysis (lameness).
Dr Edward Naddumba, senior consultant surgeon at the orthopaedic department, Mulago hospital says that injected quinine is dangerous if given undiluted on the buttocks. It has toxic effects on nerves and muscles leading to the development of necrosis (death of tissue), he says. He said many people are usually taken to the department to be treated for paralysis, nerve and muscle damage from undiluted quinine injection.
He said unfortunately few recover from the paralysis. a good number remain permanently lame have to undergo an operation to correct the deformities.
He said whoever administers quinine injection should have it diluted 1:10 and administer it through the vein.
Over the years, the ministry of health has been changing the formula of dilution. however, this has been followed by few medical practioners, says Dr Were Award. He further said many people dilute it but not in the right ratio.
Doctors and nurses are finding it difficult to follow the recommendation by the health ministry to give quinine injection through the veins. One such doctor said many patients fear when they see the needle being driven into their flesh. They prefer not to see it and that is why the doctors still inject patients on the buttocks.
Godfrey Asimwe, a parent whose daughter suffered from quinine paralysis, when asked what he thinks about quinine injection, said he no longer uses it for his children and prefers tablets.
Sidney Ogwal, a pharmacist at the department of pharmacy, Makerere medical school, said problems associated with quinine injection come due to irrational use of the drug. He said a lot of people do self- medication nowadays and fake quinine on the market cannot be ruled out.
Ogwal further said there are very many people who give injections, yet they are not qualified to.
Jacinto Amadua, commissioner clinical at the ministry of health, says quinine injection should not be given except under hospital condition. And it should be given intravenously (through veins) but not through muscles.
He says it should be given under supervision of a qualified health worker.
Most people still administer quinine injection on the buttocks and do not know that improper dilution with distilled water is harmful. The Ministry of health needs to sensitise the public about the matter and take action on those who do not comply.