An adult male from Chhattisgarh has fever with chills. Peripheral smear shows Plasmodium falciparum ring forms and he is fully conscious with normal glucose and parasite count below 1%. As per national guidelines, uncomplicated falciparum malaria should be treated with:

• A Artesunate plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for 3 days plus a single dose of primaquine ✓
• B Chloroquine for 3 days followed by primaquine for 14 days
• C Quinine plus doxycycline for 7 days alone
• D Artemether-lumefantrine for 3 days followed by primaquine for 14 days

Explanation

Uncomplicated falciparum malaria in India is treated with artesunate plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (ACT-SP) for 3 days, followed by a single dose of primaquine 0.75 mg/kg as a gametocytocide to reduce transmission. Chloroquine was abandoned because of widespread resistance, and the 14-day primaquine course is reserved for vivax radical cure, not falciparum. Quinine plus doxycycline is now largely reserved for pregnancy in the first trimester.

Reference: National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme Guidelines, Malaria Treatment Guidelines 2013 ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.