| Summary: | Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the relapse risk of Plasmodium vivax under nationalchemotherapy scheme using a novel method, and assessed its pattern in Kahnooj, a malaria endemicarea in Iran.Methods: The authors traced repeated episodes of malaria attack between 1994 and 2001 and then,estimated the risks of secondary attack of P. vivax, classified by the species in their primary attack.It is suggested that the difference between the secondary attack rate in those who were infected byP. falciparum and P. vivax in their primary attack may estimate the P. vivax relapse rate indirectly.Results: This method showed that the relapse risk of P. vivax with in one and two years after theprimary attack were 16.8 and 24.5% respectively. The risks of relapse before three or after 18 monthswere very low.Interpretation & conclusion: The relapse pattern of P. vivax was compatible with the dominantpattern in most of the temperate areas. In addition, the relapse risk was very close to the estimatedrelapse risks in clinical trials on anti-relapse drugs. Therefore, we concluded that the anti-relapsetherapy in the study area was effective; also, this method may estimate the relapse risk of P. vivaxaccurately.
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