Maintaining focus on administering effective malaria treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic

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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.

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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.