Which statement is true about severe malaria treatment?

Which statement is true about severe malaria treatment?

• A. Oral Chloroquine is the recommended intravenous therapy
• B. Doxycycline is never used in severe malaria
• C. Quinidine IV is the sole therapy
• D. IV Artesunate is the recommended intravenous therapy

Answer: (D)

In severe malaria, quickly achieving parasite clearance with reliable parenteral therapy is essential. IV artesunate is the preferred treatment because it acts rapidly to kill parasites and lowers mortality compared with older IV options. This makes it the best choice for a patient with severe malaria. Other statements aren’t accurate: intravenous chloroquine isn’t used for severe malaria due to poor reliability and resistance, and doxycycline isn’t given as the sole therapy in severe malaria (it may be used as an adjunct in certain regimens or as part of step-down therapy when transitioning to oral treatment). If artesunate isn’t available, alternatives like IV quinidine/quinine can be used with a partner drug, but they are not the preferred first-line therapy.

In severe malaria, quickly achieving parasite clearance with reliable parenteral therapy is essential. IV artesunate is the preferred treatment because it acts rapidly to kill parasites and lowers mortality compared with older IV options. This makes it the best choice for a patient with severe malaria. Other statements aren’t accurate: intravenous chloroquine isn’t used for severe malaria due to poor reliability and resistance, and doxycycline isn’t given as the sole therapy in severe malaria (it may be used as an adjunct in certain regimens or as part of step-down therapy when transitioning to oral treatment). If artesunate isn’t available, alternatives like IV quinidine/quinine can be used with a partner drug, but they are not the preferred first-line therapy.