Summary of Study Session 8

In Study Session 8, you have learned that:

1. Treatment of uncomplicated malaria should be based on diagnosis of malaria parasites using RDTs, but in the absence of RDTs, treatment can be given based on clinical diagnosis of malaria.
2. Different anti-malarial drugs that are used to treat malaria are based on the type of the malaria parasite species. All uncomplicated falciparum malaria patients and patients with mixed infections, except pregnant mothers in the first trimester, and infants less than four months old, are treated with Coartem. Plasmodium vivax cases are treated with Chloroquine.
3. It is equally important to treat other symptoms like high fever, dehydration and anaemia in uncomplicated malaria cases with the appropriate supportive treatment methods.
4. Severe malaria should be referred to the nearest health centre very fast. Before referring the patient it is important to give pre-referral treatment; this will help to prevent the patient’s condition from getting worse.
5. The key messages you have to give to your community should focus on seeking early treatment and adherence to treatment.