PharmD Info

For malaria control, the main thrust of the National Vector Borne Diseases Control programme (NVBDCP) is on early diagnosis and prompt, complete and effective treatment. Malaria diagnosis is carried out by microscopic examination of blood films collected by active and passive agencies. Health agencies and volunteers treating fever cases in inaccessible areas are being provided with Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits (Pf specific so far and now Bivalent RDT) for diagnosis of Malaria cases so as to provide full radical treatment to the confirmed cases. It is stressed that all fever cases should be suspected of malaria after ruling out other common causes and should be investigated for confirmation of malaria by Microscopy or Rapid Diagnostic Kit (RDK) so as to ensure treatment with full therapeutic dose with appropriate drug to all confirmed cases. Presumptive treatment of malaria with a single dose of chloroquine has been stopped. In all cases of suspected malaria which cannot be immediately confirmed by tests, full treatment with chloroquine for 3 days should be given. The malaria case management is very important for preventive serious cases and death due to malaria. So, the private healthcare providers should also follow the common National Guidelines for treatment of malaria as per the Drug Policy 2010.