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Diagnosis and treatment of malaria in children

William Stauffer1, Philip R Fischer

  • 1Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|October 30, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Malaria diagnosis in children requires clinical suspicion, especially for those returning from tropical areas. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing severe complications like cerebral malaria.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Tropical Medicine

Background:

  • Malaria poses a significant health risk to children immigrating to or returning from tropical regions to industrialized countries.
  • Clinical suspicion is paramount for the initial diagnosis of malaria in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline the diagnostic approaches for malaria in children.
  • To detail the clinical presentations and management strategies for pediatric malaria.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical presentations in nonimmune and partially immune children.
  • Emphasis on diagnostic techniques including thick and thin blood smears.
  • Discussion of supportive and intensive care measures for complicated cases.

Main Results:

  • Malaria in nonimmune children often presents with high fever, chills, and headache.
  • Partially immune children may exhibit subtler symptoms, including anemia and hepatosplenomegaly.
  • Cerebral malaria can manifest as altered sensorium and seizures, requiring intensive care.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate diagnosis of pediatric malaria relies on clinical suspicion and appropriate blood smear analysis.
  • Effective management involves supportive care, intensive care for severe cases, and timely administration of antimalarial medications.

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