Single low‑dose primaquine (0.25 mg/kg) is safe and effective for blocking Plasmodium falciparum transmission in children and adults

Highlight

– Individual‑patient meta‑analysis of 6056 participants from 23 studies shows single low‑dose primaquine (0.25 mg/kg) added to artemisinin‑based combination therapy (ACT) markedly reduces day‑7 gametocyte positivity (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.22–0.52) and mosquito infectivity over time (aOR per day 0.02, 95% CI 0.01–0.07).

– The efficacy and safety profile is consistent across age groups (including children 25% haemoglobin declines or grade ≥2 adverse events was observed at the 0.25 mg/kg target dose.