Treatment of Malaria Disease

Laboratory tests should be performed and diagnosis of Malaria Disease should be confirmed before any treatment is started. Not doing this should be reserved only for special cases, limiting it to those situations where clear suspicion of a very extreme case is determined and lack of facilities necessitates doing so.



Treatment is determined by three specifications: 


1. The species of infecting parasite-this is for three different reasons.
a. P. falciparum causes a severe and quickly progressing illness or death, while the other three species rarely are this severe.
b. P. Vivax and P. ovale demand treatment for forms that remain dormant and can induce repeat infections.
c. P. Falciparum and P. Vivax are known for different resistance levels in different geographic areas where infections occur. For P. Falciparum rapid beginning of treatment is extremely necessary.
2. The physical state of the infected person.
3. The resistance level of the parasites determined by the place the person was when infected.
4. In addition other things to remember about the drug treatment 
a. Other ailments the patient has.
b. Pregnancy
c. Drug allergies and sensitivities.

Drugs

Some antimalarial medications can be given intravenously. 
The usual medications for Malaria are: 
1. chloroquine 
2. sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (Fansidar®) 
3. mefloquine (Lariam®) 
4. atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®) 
5. quinine 
6. doxycycline 
7. artemisin derivatives (these are usually only available outside the United States).

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