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Treatment of severe malaria
Medicine · exam-style practice question with explanation
A 25-year-old has severe falciparum malaria with impaired consciousness. What is the recommended first-line treatment?
- A. Oral artemether-lumefantrine
- B. IV artesunate
- C. Oral chloroquine
- D. IM benzathine penicillin
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. IV artesunate
WHO guidelines recommend intravenous (or intramuscular) artesunate for severe malaria in adults and children, because it lowers mortality compared with quinine. Once the patient can take oral drugs, complete treatment with a full course of an artemisinin-based combination such as artemether-lumefantrine.
Key point: Severe malaria: IV artesunate, then a full oral ACT course.
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