Malaria

Diagnosis and treatment

Early diagnosis of malaria and its effective and timely treatment reduces morbidity and prevents death from malaria. Diagnostic tools - microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests - and medicines - artemisinin-based combination treatments - allow effective case management. Diagnostic tests and combination medicines of good quality need to be used correctly and strategically to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality and to reduce the risk of parasite resistance to medicines.

Prompt and accurate diagnosis of malaria is part of effective disease management

Diagnosis
Prompt and accurate parasitological confirmation of malaria is essential for effective disease management and malaria surveillance.

The patient should be treated early with a safe and effective antimalarial medicine

Treatment
The patient should be treated early with a safe and effective antimalarial medicine.

Antimalarial drug resistance hinders malaria control and is therefore a major public health problem

Drug resistance
Antimalarial drug resistance hinders malaria control and is therefore a major public health problem.

Quality of antimalarial medicines
Observing stringent quality standards for antimalarial medicine ensures safe and effective medicines are consistently made available for widespread use.

The HMM strategy aims to improve commonly ineffective self-medication practices

Home management of malaria (HMM)
The HMM strategy aims to ensure access to prompt malaria diagnosis and effective treatment near the home.

Finance and procurement
Pricing and affordability of artemisinin-based are key elements to increase access to quality, safe and effective antimalarial medicines.