Malaria : Diagnosis ( WHO guide )

Malaria diagnosis is a critical aspect of effective disease management, particularly in regions where the disease is prevalent. The goal is to confirm suspected cases quickly and accurately, enabling prompt and appropriate treatment. This is especially crucial in patients with severe malaria symptoms and other high-risk groups such as those living with HIV/AIDS, where the rapid initiation of antimalarial treatment can be lifesaving, even before parasitological diagnosis is confirmed.

The standard methods for diagnosing malaria involve a variety of techniques. Microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are the primary tools used in most settings. Microscopy allows for species identification and quantification of parasite load, while RDTs provide a quicker, albeit sometimes less specific, test result. In more advanced settings, or for specific research applications, molecular diagnostics like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) offer high sensitivity for detecting low parasite densities.

In regions where Plasmodium vivax is common, and where microscopy might not be available, the use of combination RDTs that can detect P. vivax-specific antigens is recommended. Although advanced molecular diagnostics offer great sensitivity, they currently do not play a direct role in routine clinical management but are invaluable in surveillance and research studies aimed at...