Treating severe and complicated malaria

Clinical attacks are usually uncomplicated and can be managed with an effective oral drug. Most occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 200 million episodes of clinical malaria that occur each year among African children, 4-6 million are severe and life threatening, and most of the 1 million deaths from malaria worldwide are in Africa.1 Although some risk factors for severe malaria have been identified—for example, human leucocyte antigens (HLA Bw 53 is associated with protection from severe malaria), it is still unclear why only some children develop severe disease.

The clinical manifestations of severe malaria are complex and may vary between age groups and …