A patient from Jharkhand presents with fever with rigors, splenomegaly, and a peripheral smear showing banana-shaped gametocytes. The drug of choice for treating the asexual stage of this Plasmodium species is:
- A Artemisinin-based combination therapy ✓
- B Chloroquine
- C Primaquine
- D Mefloquine alone
Correct answer: A. Artemisinin-based combination therapy
Explanation
Banana-shaped gametocytes are pathognomonic of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) — artemether-lumefantrine or artesunate-amodiaquine — is the WHO and NVBDCP recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum due to widespread chloroquine resistance. Primaquine is added as a single gametocytocidal dose to reduce transmission but does not treat the asexual stage.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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