Abstract:
1152 attendants comprising 40% mole and
60% female subjects at urban private clinics and
rural health centres in Ghana were interviewed
by questionnaire. Enquiry was made into the
occurrence of chloroquine-induced pruritus in
themselves, their spouses, their children, their
siblings and their parents. The questionnaire
included the following details:-
(a) self-medication for febrile illnesses
(b) the number of tablets of chloroquine
that induced pruritus.
(c) the time of onset and duration of pruritus
(d) the method of relief of pruritus
44.8% of respondents had experienced itching
on taking chloroquine. 23.3% itched on being
given chloroquine intramuscularly and 95% of
these itched on oral chloroquine. The rate of
itching on self-medication with chloroquine
alone or with other drugs was 41%. 33.9%
itched each time they took chloroquine and
30.9% itched at least once after taking chloroquine.
The prevalence rate of chloroquine induced
pruritus in this study was found to be
between 30. 9% and 44.8%. of the respondents
who knew about itching among their close
relatives, 50.7% (309/609) had siblings who
itched, 29.3% (184/628) had children who
itched, and 21.9% (166/759) had parents who
itched on taking chloroquine.
The results describe a pattern suggestive of
strong familial aggregation and thus a possible
genetic basis for chloroquine-induced pruritus.
In addition, a pathway a/inheritance leading to
male preponderance in off-springs of respondents
who itch has been established.
The minimum number a/tablets required to
induce itching was found to be 2, equivalent to
300mg base chloroquine. 42.2% o/respondents
started itching within 2 hours, 24.1% between
2 and 6 hours, and 33.3% after 6 hours. Of the
57.6% who took drugs for relief of pruritus,
89.7% took antihistamine preparations. However
there was no significant difference between
those who took the drug before or after chloroquine
ingestion, with regard to relief of pruritus.