How is malaria treated in 2024

How is malaria treated?

Malaria is treated with medicine. Several things influence the choice of medicine. They include:

Whether the medicine is being used to prevent or to treat malaria.

Your condition (such as your age, your health, or whether you are pregnant).

How sick you are from malaria.

Whether the malaria parasite may be resistant to certain medicines.

Side effects of the medicine.

Your age and health condition are important factors in selecting a medicine to prevent or treat malaria. Pregnant women, children, people who are very old, people who have other health problems, and those who didn’t take medicine to prevent malaria infection need special consideration.

Exchange blood transfusions may be considered for treating severe cases of malaria. They are the quickest way to remove parasites. Blood is taken from you at the same time that you receive donor blood. You also get medicine to treat the infection.

If you are going to areas where there is no medical care available, you can get medicine before you leave and carry it with you while you travel. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to use the medicine if you should get malaria symptoms. This is a short-term measure until you can get medical care. Seek medical care as soon as you can (ideally within 24 hours).
The most current information about the prevention and treatment of malaria is available from:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Go to www.cdc.gov/malaria to learn more.

The World Health Organization (WHO). Go to www.who.int/malaria to learn more.