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Malaria

Also known as: Plasmodium · falciparum · vivax · febrile illness

A mosquito-borne protozoal (Plasmodium) febrile illness. In India P. vivax and P. falciparum predominate; prompt diagnosis and species-specific treatment prevent severe disease.

Source · Reviewed 2026-08-15 · v1.0— AI-assisted draft — confirm the current state first-line antimalarial against the national drug policy before clinical use.

⚕️ Education only — not medical advice. Verify against the latest official guideline and your local protocol; confirm every drug dose against the cited source before clinical use.

Who gets it

People in or travelling to endemic areas; the night-biting Anopheles is the vector. Pregnant women and young children are at higher risk of severe malaria.

Red flags — escalate / refer

Severe malaria (usually falciparum): impaired consciousness, seizures, severe anaemia, jaundice, acute kidney injury, ARDS, hypoglycaemia, shock, bleeding or hyperparasitaemia → IV artesunate + intensive care.
Pregnancy with malaria → higher risk; manage urgently per policy.

Work-up / diagnosis

1Confirm parasitologically — microscopy (thick + thin films) and/or a rapid diagnostic test (RDT); identify the species and parasite density.
2If the first test is negative but suspicion is high, repeat 12–24 hourly.
3Screen for severe features and complications (glucose, renal function, Hb).

Management — overview

Uncomplicated P. falciparum: a full course of ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy) per the national drug policy, plus single-dose primaquine (gametocytocidal).
Uncomplicated P. vivax: chloroquine (where sensitive) PLUS primaquine for 14 days for radical cure — check G6PD first; avoid primaquine in pregnancy and infants.
Severe malaria (any species): IV artesunate, then complete a full ACT course; give supportive/critical care.
Follow the national drug policy — the first-line ACT varies by state and resistance pattern.

In-depthFull dosing & advanced protocol

Drug dosing

ACT for P. falciparum

Uncomplicated falciparum (per national policy)

Adult dose: 3-day ACT (e.g. artesunate + sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; artemether-lumefantrine in the North-East) + single-dose primaquine 0.75 mg/kg on day 2
Route: Oral

Caution: Confirm the current state first-line ACT; single-dose primaquine is gametocytocidal.

MoHFWNCVBDC (NVBDCP), India — National Drug Policy on Malaria ↗

Chloroquine + primaquine for P. vivax

Uncomplicated vivax (radical cure)

Adult dose: Chloroquine 25 mg base/kg over 3 days + primaquine 0.25 mg/kg/day × 14 days
Route: Oral

Caution: Check G6PD before primaquine; avoid primaquine in pregnancy and infants.

MoHFWNCVBDC (NVBDCP), India — National Drug Policy on Malaria ↗

IV Artesunate (severe malaria)

Severe/complicated malaria

Adult dose: 2.4 mg/kg IV at 0, 12 and 24 h, then once daily; follow with a full ACT course
Paediatric: 3 mg/kg (<20 kg) per WHO guidance
Route: Intravenous

WHOWHO Guidelines for malaria ↗

Severe malaria, G6PD & pregnancy

Severe malaria is a medical emergency: IV artesunate, watch glucose and fluid balance, and treat complications (AKI, ARDS, anaemia).
Primaquine (radical cure/gametocytocidal) needs G6PD awareness; it is contraindicated in pregnancy and infancy.
In pregnancy, follow trimester-specific policy; give an ACT or quinine-clindamycin as recommended.

WHOWHO Guidelines for malaria ↗

Prevention

Long-lasting insecticidal nets, indoor residual spraying and larval control; chemoprophylaxis for non-immune travellers.

References

Guidelines change. If something here is out of date, tell us — we keep these current.

🚩 Report outdated / suggest update

More protocols

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Malaria

Also known as: Plasmodium · falciparum · vivax · febrile illness

A mosquito-borne protozoal (Plasmodium) febrile illness. In India P. vivax and P. falciparum predominate; prompt diagnosis and species-specific treatment prevent severe disease.

Source · Reviewed 2026-08-15 · v1.0— AI-assisted draft — confirm the current state first-line antimalarial against the national drug policy before clinical use.

Management — overview

Uncomplicated P. falciparum: a full course of ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy) per the national drug policy, plus single-dose primaquine (gametocytocidal).

Uncomplicated P. vivax: chloroquine (where sensitive) PLUS primaquine for 14 days for radical cure — check G6PD first; avoid primaquine in pregnancy and infants.

Severe malaria (any species): IV artesunate, then complete a full ACT course; give supportive/critical care.

Follow the national drug policy — the first-line ACT varies by state and resistance pattern.

Drug dosing

ACT for P. falciparum

Uncomplicated falciparum (per national policy)

Adult dose: 3-day ACT (e.g. artesunate + sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine; artemether-lumefantrine in the North-East) + single-dose primaquine 0.75 mg/kg on day 2
Route: Oral

Caution: Confirm the current state first-line ACT; single-dose primaquine is gametocytocidal.

MoHFWNCVBDC (NVBDCP), India — National Drug Policy on Malaria ↗

Chloroquine + primaquine for P. vivax

Uncomplicated vivax (radical cure)

Adult dose: Chloroquine 25 mg base/kg over 3 days + primaquine 0.25 mg/kg/day × 14 days
Route: Oral

Caution: Check G6PD before primaquine; avoid primaquine in pregnancy and infants.

MoHFWNCVBDC (NVBDCP), India — National Drug Policy on Malaria ↗

IV Artesunate (severe malaria)

Severe/complicated malaria

Adult dose: 2.4 mg/kg IV at 0, 12 and 24 h, then once daily; follow with a full ACT course
Paediatric: 3 mg/kg (<20 kg) per WHO guidance
Route: Intravenous

WHOWHO Guidelines for malaria ↗

Severe malaria, G6PD & pregnancy

Severe malaria is a medical emergency: IV artesunate, watch glucose and fluid balance, and treat complications (AKI, ARDS, anaemia).

Primaquine (radical cure/gametocytocidal) needs G6PD awareness; it is contraindicated in pregnancy and infancy.

In pregnancy, follow trimester-specific policy; give an ACT or quinine-clindamycin as recommended.

👤 Who gets it

🚩 Red flags — escalate / refer

🔎 Work-up / diagnosis

🧭 Management — overview

💊 Drug dosing

ACT for P. falciparum

Chloroquine + primaquine for P. vivax

IV Artesunate (severe malaria)

📈 Severe malaria, G6PD & pregnancy

📈 Prevention

📚 References

More protocols

👤 Who gets it

🚩 Red flags — escalate / refer

🔎 Work-up / diagnosis

🧭 Management — overview

💊 Drug dosing

ACT for P. falciparum

Chloroquine + primaquine for P. vivax

IV Artesunate (severe malaria)

📈 Severe malaria, G6PD & pregnancy

📈 Prevention

📚 References

More protocols

Who gets it

Red flags — escalate / refer

Work-up / diagnosis

Management — overview

Drug dosing

Severe malaria, G6PD & pregnancy

Prevention

References

Who gets it

Red flags — escalate / refer

Work-up / diagnosis

Management — overview

Drug dosing

Severe malaria, G6PD & pregnancy

Prevention

References