A 26-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh is diagnosed with Plasmodium vivax malaria after a standard blood smear. He is started on chloroquine. Before adding primaquine for radical cure, which test must be done?
- A Serum bilirubin
- B Blood glucose
- C G6PD enzyme assay ✓
- D Urine routine examination
Correct answer: C. G6PD enzyme assay
Explanation
Primaquine causes haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, so national guidelines require G6PD status to be checked before the 14-day radical cure course for vivax malaria. Chloroquine treats the blood stage but does not clear dormant hepatic hypnozoites, which is why primaquine is needed. Liver function tests and urine examination have no role in predicting primaquine haemotoxicity.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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