Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria

Early malaria diagnosis and timely malaria treatment reduces morbidity and thus malaria prevention from malaria deaths. The malaria test for malaria diagnosis commonly recommended by doctors is a blood smear on a microscope slide which is stained to show whether malaria parasite is present in the red blood cells or not. Although malaria diagnosis is easily done by this test yet other tests based on immunologic principles i.e. rapid diagnostic tests are also recommended to get proper malaria treatments.

Three main factors determine malaria treatments:

• The infecting species of plasmodium parasite
• The clinical situation of the patient (e.g.adult, child, pregnant female suffering with mild or sever malaria)
• The drug susceptibility of the infecting malaria parasites

The correct malaria drug should be prescribes by the doctor. Oral medication can treat mild malaria and helps in malaria control. Malaria drugs treatment is not always an easy task. Malaria treatment depends on the following factors:

• Type of infection
• Severity of infection
• Status of the host
• Associated conditions/diseases
  • Pregnancy
  • Epilepsy
  • Cardiac disease
  • Hepatic insufficiency
  • Renal failure
  • Dermatitis

All cases of malaria should be given chloroquinine, quinine and artemisinin for the treatment of malaria. Malaria pills dose depends on the patient’s age and weight. Patients with vomiting and nausea should be given anti emetic drugs to ensure adequate treatment of malaria.So, its better to avoid oral malaria medications at the height of fever. Improper malaria treatment can lead to death from malaria.