Editorial: Newer drug combinations for malaria - May be impractical unless diagnostic accuracy can be improved

Abstract

This editorial points out that resistance of parasites to cheap, first-line malaria drugs is a major obstacle to reducing the more than one million deaths due to malaria each year worldwide. Comparing the number of parasitologically confirmed cases of malaria with those that are presumptively diagnosed reveals shockingly high rates of overdiagnosis at peripheral and community levels where self treatment is routine. If more expensive drug treatments are introduced, this degree of misdiagnosis of malaria cannot be condoned or sustained.

Citation

Barnish, G.; Bates, I.; Iboro, J. Newer drug combinations for malaria - May be impractical unless diagnostic accuracy can be improved. British Medical Journal (2004) 328 (7455) 1511-1512. [DOI: 10.1136/bmj.328.7455.1511]

Editorial: Newer drug combinations for malaria - May be impractical unless diagnostic accuracy can be improved

Published 1 January 2004