How to Treat or Cure Malaria

Malaria can be cured when it is found and treated early with the right medicine. The steps below describe how treatment works. A doctor must direct it.

Step 1: confirm with a test

A rapid diagnostic test or a blood smear under the microscope shows whether malaria is present and which type. Treating fever as malaria without a test can delay care for other illnesses such as dengue or typhoid.

Step 2: decide on the care setting

• Uncomplicated malaria: usually treated with oral tablets at home with follow-up
• Severe malaria, pregnancy, young children or vomiting: admission to hospital for injectable medicine and monitoring

Step 3: take the right medicine

Artemisinin-based combinations for falciparum, and chloroquine with primaquine for vivax, are commonly used. The doctor chooses the exact drugs and doses.

Step 4: finish the course

Stopping early can let parasites return and can create resistance.

Step 5: follow up

• Fever usually settles in 2 to 3 days
• Return if fever persists beyond 3 days, vomiting prevents tablets or new symptoms appear
• A repeat test may be advised, and a G6PD test before primaquine