Republic of Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines Ministry of Health Sixth Edition, 2010 © 2010 Ministry of Health (GNDP) Ghana All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise, without prior written permission of the Ministry of Health, Ghana st Essential Drugs List & National Formulary with Therapeutic Guidelines, 1 Edition, 1988 nd Essential Drugs List & National Formulary with Therapeutic Guidelines, 2 Edition, 1993 rd Essential Drugs List & National Formulary with Therapeutic Guidelines, 3 Edition, 1996 Standard Treatment Guidelines, 4th Edition, 2000 Standard Treatment Guidelines, 5th Edition, 2004 Standard Treatment Guidelines, 6th Edition, 2010 ISBN 978-9988-1-2538-7 For all enquiries write to the publishers: Ghana National Drugs Programme (GNDP) Ministry of Health P. O. Box MB-582, Accra, Ghana, West Africa Tel: (0)30 2661 670/1 Fax: (0)30 2664 309 E-mail: LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1: Assessment of the degree of dehydration in children with diarrhoea Table 2-2: Treatment by Fluid therapy- Plan A Table 2-3: Treatment by Fluid therapy- Plan B Table 2-4: Treatment by Fluid therapy- Plan C Table 2-5: Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy Table 5-1: Pain Management in the Sickle Cell Patient Table 6-1: Schedule for Immunization for Children Table 8-1: Antihypertensive Treatment by Drug Class Table 8-2: New York Heart Association functional Classification for Heart Failure Table 10-1: Drug Treatment of Seizures Table 10-2: Guidelines for the Management of the Unconscious Patient Table 12-1: Guidelines for the Treatment of Itching of specific causes Table 13-1: Regime for managing Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Adults Table 13-2: Regime for managing diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children Table 13-3: Example of Sliding Scale Chart Table 15-1: Misoprostol Dosages for Reproductive Health Table 16-1: Classification for Acute Kidney Injury, based on modification of RIFLE criteria Table 16-2 : Causes of Male Infertility Table 16-3: Symptoms and Signs of Urinary Tract Calculi Table 16-4: Distinguishing between Torsion and Epididymoorchitis Table 19-1: Guidelines for the Treatment of the Patient with Fever Table 19-2: Empirical Antibiotic Therapy for suspected Bacterial Meningitis in Adults Table 19-3: Artesunate + Amodiaquine Co-Blistered Tablets (Regimen for once daily dosing) Table 19-4: Artesunate and Amodiaquine Co-Blistered Tablets (Regimen for twice daily dosing) Table 19-5: Artesunate and Amodiaquine Fixed Dose Combination. (Standard Regimen, using the 3 available dosing strengths) Table 19-6: Artemether and Lumefantrine (Recommended Dosing Regimen) Table 19-7: Dihydroartemisinin and Piperaquine (Recommended Dosing Regimen) Table 19-8: Dosing Regimen for Quinine IM Injection in young Children Table 19-9: Rectal Artesunate (Pre-Referral Treatment in Children) Table 19-10:Rectal Artesunate (Pre-Referral Treatment in Adults) Table 19-11:Pharmacological Treatment of Worm Infestations Table 20-1: Dose of Vitamin A for Xerophthalmia Table 20-2: Characterising Acute Red Eye with no history of Injury Table 20-3: Summary of the Common Causes and Management of Conjunctivitis Table 23-1: Points of distinction between Inflammatory and Mechanical Back Pain Table 24-1: Indication for use of Rabies Immunoglobulin and Rabies vaccine Table 26-1: Choice of Antibiotic for Prophylaxis vii PREFACE Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) are systematically developed statements that assist prescribers in deciding on appropriate treatments for specific clinical problems. They usually reflect the consensus on the optimal treatment options within a health system and aim at beneficially influencing prescribing behaviour at all levels of care. Health systems, particularly in developing countries, are faced with growing health needs on one hand and limited resources on the other. Policy makers at various levels are therefore engaged in designing cost-effective health interventions that ensure accessible and affordable quality care for all, in particular the poor and vulnerable groups. Inappropriate prescribing is one of the manifestations of irrational medication use behaviour. It occurs when medicines are not prescribed in accordance with guidelines that are based on scientific evidence to ensure safe, effective, and economic use. STGs provide the tool for health care providers to give quality standardised care at affordable cost. For our growing National Health Insurance Scheme, a standard treatment guideline is seen as a cost containment tool to ensure that inefficiencies, fraud and poly-pharmacy, often associated with Health Insurance Schemes, are minimised. Regular, objective and transparent reviews of STGs are very important because the development process is a continual effort and not limited to a one-time production. This process includes gaining acceptance of the concept and preparing the text for wide consultation and consensus building. This is to ensure that users identify with and collectively own the process of development. This document is the sixth edition of the Ministry of Health's officially approved prescribers' and dispensers' guide for all levels of healthcare. Great effort has been put into aligning the prevailing health insurance benefits package to this edition.This edition is also available on compact disk and can be accessed on the internet at www.ghndp.org. The Ministry of Health is particularly grateful to its development partners for their continuous support for the health sector. I am confident that all users of this document would find this edition very useful. Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor Hon. Minister for Health May, 2010 viii IMPORTANT CONTACTS • PHARMACOVIGILANCE UNIT, FOOD AND DRUGS BOARD Adverse drug reactions: Please report any adverse drug reactions to the Pharmacovigilance Unit of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). Telephone number: 030- 2229 621, 030-2233 200, 030-2235 100, 030-2225 502 Fax number: 030- 2229 794 Website: www.fdbghana.gov.gh • NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL PROGRAMME (NACP) Telephone number: 030-2662 691 • NATIONAL AMBULANCE SERVICES Telephone number: 030-2684 201, 030-2684 251, 030-2684 259 • NATIONAL DRUG INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTRE Telephone number: 030-2678 557, 030-2678 559 Fax number: 030-2678 557 Website: www.ghanadruginformation.org • NATIONAL POISONS CONTROL CENTRE Telephone number: 030-2238 636, 030-2243 552 • NATIONAL BURULI ULCER CONTROL PROGRAMME Telephone number: 030-2686 337 Fax number: 030-2686 336 Website: www.burulighana.org • GHANA POLICE SERVICE Telephone number: 191, 999, 027-7522 288 Website: www.ghanapolice.info Comments and suggestions should be sent to: The Programme Manager Ghana National Drugs Programme Ministry of Health P.O. Box MB-582, Accra, Ghana Telephone number: (0) 30 2661 670/1 Fax number: (0) 30 2664 309 E-mail: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The review of the Standard Treatment Guidelines 2010 by the Ministry of Health / Ghana Health service and its agencies has been successfully completed as a result of the recommendations and contributions received from: MOH/GHS/School of Medicine and Pharmacy Executives Dr. B. Kunbuor Hon. Minister of Health Dr. Elias K. Sory Director General, Ghana Health Service (GHS) Dr. Sylvester D. Anemana Ag. Chief Director, MOH Mr. James Ohemeng Kyei Chief Pharmacist, GHS/MOH Mr. George Dakpalah Director, Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME), MOH Mr. Samuel Boateng Director, Ministry of Health (MOH) Dr. Cynthia Bannerman Institutional Care Division, GHS Mrs. Freda Bartels Mensah Ag. Director, Procurement and Supplies, MOH. Mr. Sylvester Mensah CEO, National Health Insurance Authority Dr. Akwasi Osei Chief Psychiatrist, GHS Dr. (Mrs.) G. Quansah Asare Director, Family Health, GHS Prof. Nii Otu Nartey CEO, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Prof. Ohene Adjei CEO, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Prof. (Mrs.) C. Ntim Amponsah Dean, University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) Prof. Kwabena Danso Dean, School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Prof. Mahama Duwiejua Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST Mrs. Joycelyn Azeez Head, Procurement Unit, MOH Mr. Peter Ekow Gyimah Head, Central Medical Stores, MOH Expert Committee Members Dr. F. Ofei (Chairman) Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, UGMS Dr. K. Aboah Department of Surgery, SMS, KNUST Dr. A. Akpalu Department of Medicine, KBTH Mr. P. Anum National Drugs Information Centre, Pharmacy Council Dr. K. Aryee Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UGMS Dr. J.N. Clegg-Lamptey Department of Surgery, UGMS Dr. A.N.O. Dodoo Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UGMS Dr. (Mrs.) I. Ekem Department of Haematology, UGMS x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr. (Mrs.) A. Forson Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, UGMS Prof. E. H. Frimpong Department of Medical Microbiology, SMS, KNUST Dr. E. D. Kitcher Department of Surgery, UGMS Prof. G. Klufio Department of Surgery, UGMS Prof. M. O. Mate-Kole Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, UGMS Mr. A. Mensah Department of Pharmacy, KATH Prof. S. Naaeder Department of Surgery, UGMS Mrs. Amah Nkansah Department of Pharmacy, KBTH Prof. H. Addo Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, UGMS Dr. (Mrs.) E. Ofori-Adjei University Health Services, University of Ghana Dr. S. Ohene Department of Psychiatry, UGMS Dr. I. Owusu Department of Medicine, SMS, KNUST Prof. (Mrs.) B. Quarm Goka Department of Child Health, UGMS Mr. R. Tetteh Department of Pharmacy, KBTH Prof. (Mrs.) J. Welbeck Department of Child Health, UGMS Editorial Committee Members Dr. F. Ofei (Chairman) Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, UGMS Dr. A. Akpalu Department of Medicine, KBTH Dr. A.N.O. Dodoo Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, UGMS Mrs. Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt Ghana National Drugs Programme, MOH Mrs. Amah Nkansah Department of Pharmacy, KBTH Prof. (Mrs.) J. Welbeck Department of Child Health, UGMS Coordinators Mrs. Augustina Koduah Ghana National Drugs Programme, MOH Mr. Brian Adu Asare Ghana National Drugs Programme, MOH Programme Managers Dr. P. Aboagye Reproductive Health Unit, GHS Dr. N.A. Addo National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NACP) Dr. K.O. Antwi-Agyei Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), GHS Dr. (Mrs.) C. Bart-Plange National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), GHS Dr. F. Bonsu National Tuberculosis Programme. (NTP), GHS xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dr. O. Debrah Eyecare Programme, GHS Dr. Agana Nsiire National Yaws Eradication Programme (NYEP) Dr. S. Kyei Faried Head, Disease Control Unit, GHS Dr. (Mrs.) I. Sagoe-Moses Child Health, GHS Dr. Yaa Osei Family Planning, GHS World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr. Daniel Kertesz Country Representative, Ghana Mrs. Edith Andrews-Annan National Professional Officer, Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy, Ghana Management Sciences for Health Mr. Kwesi Eghan Country Representative, MSH/SPS/USAID Ghana National Drugs Programme Mrs. Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt Programme Manager Mrs. Augustina Koduah Assistant Programme Manager Mr. Brian Adu Asare Programme Officer Mrs. Stella A. Ntow Principal Programme Accountant Mr. Joshua Y. Quarshie Accountant Agnes Osei Konadu Account Officer Mrs. Mispah Afram Office Manager Diana Edusei Front Desk Manager The Royal Netherlands Government for their support to the Ghana National Drugs Programme (GNDP) GNDP Steering Committee Mr. Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo Hon. Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health Dr. Sylvester D. Anemana Ag. Chief Director, MOH Dr. Elias K. Sory Director General, GHS Mr. James Ohemeng Kyei Chief Pharmacist, MOH/GHS Mr. T.C.P. Corquaye Ag. Chairman, Food & Drugs Board Mr. David Anim Addo Chairman, Pharmacy Council Mrs. Freda Bartels Mensah Ag. Director, Procurement and Supplies, MOH Mr. F. Dakpallah Director, PPME, Ministry of Health Prof. David Ofori-Adjei University of Ghana Medical School Mr. Herman Dusu Financial Controller, MOH Dr. (Mrs.) I. Agyepong Regional Director of Health Services, Greater Accra Region Prof. Mahama Duwiejua Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, KNUST Mrs. Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt Programme Manager, GNDP/MOH xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The Government of Ghana, through the National Drug Policy, remains committed to ensuring the availability of, and accessibility to affordable and good quality medicines for all Ghanaians; and it is expected that these medicines would be used rationally. Achieving these objectives require a comprehensive strategy that, not only includes supply and distribution, but also appropriate and thoughtful prescribing, dispensing and use of medicines. The Ministry of Health since 1983 has been publishing a list of Essential Drugs with Therapeutic Guidelines to aid the rational use of drugs. This document has been reviewed in response to new knowledge on drugs and diseases and changes in the epidemiology of diseases in Ghana. The Ministry has also produced separate guidelines for specific disease control programmes, diseases and identifiable health providers. The Standard Treatment Guidelines have been prepared as a tool to assist and guide prescribers (including doctors, medical assistants, and midwives), pharmacists, dispensers, and other healthcare staff who prescribe at primary care facilities in providing quality care to patients. The guidelines list the preferred treatments for common health problems experienced by people in the health system and were subjected to stakeholder discussions before being finalised to ensure that the opinion of the intended users were considered and incorporated. The guidelines are designed to be used as a guide to treatment choices and as a reference book to help in the overall management of patients, such as when to refer. The guidelines are meant for use at all levels within the health system, both public and private. It is recognised that the treatment guidance detailed in this book may differ from the reader’s current practice. It is emphasised that the choices described here have the weight of scientific evidence to support them, together with the collective opinion of a wide group of recognised national and international experts. The recommendations have been rated on the following basis: Evidence rating A – requires at least one randomised control trial as part of a body of scientific literature of overall good quality and consistency addressing the specific recommendation. Evidence rating B – requires the availability of well-conducted clinical studies but no randomised clinical trials on the topic of recommendation. Evidence rating C – requires evidence obtained from expert committee reports or opinions and/or clinical experience of respected authorities. This indicates an absence of directly applicable clinical studies of good quality. Treatments other than those recommended here may have to be justified to colleagues, managers, or in law. 13 The content of these treatment guidelines will undergo a process of continuous review. Comments or suggestions for improvement are welcome. Those comments or suggestions for addition of diseases should include evidence of prevalence as well as a draft treatment guideline using the format set out in this book. In the case of a request for a new drug or replacing a listed product with another product, the evidence base must be clearly defined and included with the request. These suggestions should be sent to: The Programme Manager Ghana National Drugs Programme Ministry of Health P.O. Box MB-582, Accra, Ghana West Africa Website: www.ghndp.org HOW TO USE THIS BOOK To use these guidelines effectively, it is important that you become familiar with the contents and layout. The contents of this book have as much as possible been arranged in order of 'body systems'. Within each section, a number of disease states which are significant in Ghana have been identified. For each of these disease states the information and guidance has been standardised to include a brief description of the condition or disease and the more common symptoms and signs. In each case the objectives of treatment have been set out, followed by recommended non-pharmacological as well as the pharmacological treatment choices. The choice of treatment used here is based on the principles of 'evidence based medicine'. That is, it is based on the international medical and pharmaceutical literature, which clearly demonstrates the efficacy of the treatment choices. The treatment guidelines try to take the user through a sequence of diagnosis, treatment, treatment objectives, and choice of treatment and review of outcome. It is strongly recommended that prescribers adopt a similar approach to practice. Care should be taken to avoid symptomatic management of uncertain diagnoses. When treating patients, the final responsibility for the well being of the individual patient remains with the prescriber. Prescribers must take steps to ensure that they are competent to manage the most common conditions 14