The Treatment of Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Plasmodium knowlesi occurs across Southeast Asia and is the most common cause of malaria in Malaysia. High parasitaemias can develop rapidly, and the risk of severe disease in adults is at least as high as in falciparum malaria. Prompt initiation of effective treatment is therefore essential. Intravenous artesunate is highly effective in severe knowlesi malaria and in those with moderately high parasitaemia but otherwise uncomplicated disease. Both chloroquine and artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) are highly effective for uncomplicated knowlesi malaria, with faster parasite clearance times and lower anaemia rates with ACT. Given the difficulties with microscope diagnosis of P. knowlesi, a unified treatment strategy of ACT for all Plasmodium species is recommended in coendemic regions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)242-253
    Number of pages12
    JournalTrends in Parasitology
    Volume33
    Issue number3
    Early online date1 Oct 2016
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2017

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