Malaria

Case management of malaria: Treatment and chemoprophylaxis

I S Ukpe, D Moonasar, J Raman, K I Barnes, L Baker, L Blumberg

Abstract


Malaria case management is a vital component of programmatic strategies for malaria control and elimination. Malaria case management encompasses prompt and effective treatment to minimise morbidity and mortality, reduce transmission and prevent the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance. Malaria is an acute illness that may progress rapidly to severe disease and death, especially in non-immune populations, if not diagnosed early and promptly treated with effective drugs. In this article, the focus is on malaria case management, addressing treatment, monitoring for parasite drug resistance, and the impact of drug resistance on treatment policies; it concludes with chemoprophylaxis and treatment strategies for malaria elimination in South Africa. 


Authors' affiliations

I S Ukpe, Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Mpumalanga Department of Health, Nelspruit, South Africa

D Moonasar, Malaria Directorate, National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa

J Raman, Malaria Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa

K I Barnes, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, South Africa

L Baker, Amayeza Drug Information Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

L Blumberg, Division of Public Health Surveillance and Outbreak Response, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa

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Keywords

epidemiology; malaria; case management; chemoprophylaxis; Malaria Control Programme

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2013;103(10):793-798. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.7443

Article History

Date submitted: 2013-08-29
Date published: 2013-08-29

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