A 30-year-old male returning from a P. falciparum-endemic area has high-grade fever. His peripheral smear shows >5% parasitized red cells. According to NVBDCP criteria, this constitutes:

• A Severe malaria due to hyperparasitaemia, requiring parenteral artesunate ✓
• B Uncomplicated malaria requiring standard 3-day ACT treatment
• C Severe malaria only if clinical complications are present alongside parasitaemia
• D Mixed infection; requires combination of chloroquine and ACT

Explanation

WHO and NVBDCP define severe falciparum malaria as including hyperparasitaemia (>5% of red cells parasitized or >250,000 parasites/µL) as a criterion by itself, regardless of other clinical features. Such cases require parenteral artesunate (not oral ACT) as first-line treatment. This distinguishes hyperparasitaemia as an independent criterion from one that requires accompanying clinical manifestations.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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