Maintaining focus on administering effective malaria treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Date
Authors
Raman, Jaishree
Barnes, K.I.
Baker, L.
Blaylock, M.
Blumberg, Lucille Hellen
Frean, J.
Misiani, E.
Ukpe, I.S. (Indongesit Sunday)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health and Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
As September marks the start of the malaria season in South Africa (SA), it is essential that healthcare professionals consider both COVID19 and malaria when a patient who lives in or has recently travelled to a malaria area presents with acute febrile illness. Early diagnosis of
malaria by either a rapid diagnostic test or microscopy enables prompt treatment with the effective antimalarial, artemether-lumefantrine,
preventing progression to severe disease and death. Intravenous artesunate is the preferred treatment for severe malaria in both children and
adults. Adding single low-dose primaquine to standard treatment is recommended in endemic areas to block onward transmission. Use of
the highly effective artemisinin-based therapies should be limited to the treatment of confirmed malaria infections, as there is no clinical
evidence that these antimalarials can prevent or treat COVID-19. Routine malaria case management services must be sustained, in spite of
COVID-19, to treat malaria effectively and support SA’s malaria elimination efforts.
Description
Keywords
Malaria, COVID-19 pandemic, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Acute febrile illness
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Raman, J., Barnes, K.I., Baker, L. et al. Maintaining focus on administering effective malaria treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. South African Medical Journal, vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 13-16, 2021. doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v111i11.15289.