Malaria (uncomplicated + severe)
Encounter flow
12/12 authoredCanonical 12-phase frame with authored status for this dossier.
Frame
Confirm malaria via smear / RDT / PCR; identify species + severity (IDSA 2024)
Diagnosis + species
Patient inputs (19)
Pediatric severity criteria differ; tafenoquine ≥16 yr (IDSA 2024)
Drug selection (avoid primaquine, tafenoquine, atovaquone-proguanil) (IDSA 2024)
Severity (IDSA 2024)
Tachycardia / shock (IDSA 2024)
Risk and species likelihood (IDSA 2024)
Adherence; resistance pattern (IDSA 2024)
Species + parasitemia % — gold standard (IDSA 2024)
Rapid diagnosis when smear unavailable (IDSA 2024)
Anemia + thrombocytopenia common (IDSA 2024)
Hypoglycemia common; AKI / electrolytes (IDSA 2024)
Hepatic involvement, jaundice (IDSA 2024)
DIC criterion (IDSA 2024)
Shock criterion (IDSA 2024)
Pulmonary edema severe criterion (IDSA 2024)
Cerebral malaria criterion (IDSA 2024)
Severe criterion (IDSA 2024)
Species confirmation; mixed infection (IDSA 2024)
Required before primaquine / tafenoquine (IDSA 2024)
Co-infection in endemic regions (IDSA 2024)
* = hard-required. Engine cannot meaningfully run until these are filled.
Severity triggers (9)
- informationallife_threateningsevere_falciparum_criteriaWHO severe malaria criteria — GCS <11, seizure, lactate >5, parasitemia >5%, hypoglycemia, Hb <7, AKI, jaundice, shock, DIC, pulm edemaTrigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationallife_threateningcerebral_malariaComa / GCS <11 with falciparum (IDSA 2024)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverepregnancy_with_malariaMalaria in pregnancy (IDSA 2024)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverepost_artesunate_delayed_hemolysisHgb drop ≥10% with rising LDH 7–28 d after artesunate (IDSA 2024)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseveremixed_or_relapse_falciparum_with_resistanceTreatment failure or recurrence (IDSA 2024)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalseverehyperparasitemia_above_5_percentParasitemia ≥ 5% in non-immune patient OR ≥ 10% in semi-immune endemic patient — independent prognostic for severe malaria (WHO 2023; SEAQUAMAT)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalsevereartemisinin_resistance_suspectedPersistent parasitemia day 3 OR fever clearance > 72 h on artemisinin OR kelch13 mutation detected — emerging in East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Eritrea) + Greater Mekong (WHO 2023; Balikagala NEJM 2021; Conrad 2023)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmoderateg6pd_deficiency_radical_cureVivax / ovale with G6PD deficiency (IDSA 2024)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
- informationalmilduncomplicated_falciparum_outpatient_eligibleTolerating PO, no severe criteria, reliable follow-up (IDSA 2024)Trigger could not be auto-evaluated — needs clinician judgement.
Workflow calculators
Run this disease's risk and dosing calculators inline.
Recommended regimen
Severe malaria — IV artesunate then ACT (IDSA 2024)- artesunate_ivfirst lineartemisinin2.4 mg/kg IV at 0, 12, 24 h then daily • IV • 0/12/24 h then daily until tolerating POtriggers: severe_falciparum, hyperparasitemia_gt_5SEAQUAMAT / AQUAMAT — superior to quinine (IDSA 2024)rxcui 18346
- artemether_lumefantrinefirst lineACT4 tablets BID × 3 d (≥35 kg) • PO • BID × 3 dtriggers: transition_from_artesunate_or_uncomplicated_falciparumMost widely used ACT (IDSA 2024)rxcui 282448
- quininesecond linecinchona_alkaloid20 mg/kg IV load + 10 mg/kg q8h • IV • load + q8htriggers: artesunate_unavailableBackup; cinchonism, hypoglycemia (IDSA 2024)rxcui 9071
- clindamycinadd onlincosamide20 mg/kg/d divided • IV/PO • TIDtriggers: pregnancy_first_trimester_with_quininePregnancy 1st trimester regimen with quinine (IDSA 2024)rxcui 2582
outpatient playbook — drug actions (3)
- 1. artemether-lumefantrine4 tabs BID × 3 d • PO with fat • BID × 3 dtrigger: Uncomplicated falciparum (IDSA 2024)WHO first-line
- 2. chloroquine + primaquineCQ 600 then 300 at 6/24/48 h + primaquine 30 mg × 14 d • PO • per regimentrigger: Vivax / ovale, G6PD normal (IDSA 2024)Radical cure (IDSA 2024)
- 3. tafenoquine 300 mg300 mg single dose • PO • singletrigger: Vivax / ovale ≥16 yr, G6PD ≥70% (IDSA 2024)DETECTIVE single dose (IDSA 2024)
Auto-drafted A&P note
outpatientSubjective
- Possible entry pathways: Fever in returned traveler from endemic region (IDSA 2024); Cyclical fever, chills, diaphoresis (IDSA 2024); Jaundice, anemia, splenomegaly with fever (IDSA 2024).
Objective
- No vitals, labs, or imaging entered for this encounter.
Assessment
**Malaria (uncomplicated + severe)** (id.malaria.v1). Phenotype framing: Falciparum vs vivax / ovale / malariae / knowlesi; rule out typhoid / dengue / lepto / sepsis / hep (IDSA 2024) Scope: Confirm malaria via smear / RDT / PCR; identify species + severity (IDSA 2024) No severity triggers fired against current inputs.
Plan
Regimen axis: **Severe malaria — IV artesunate then ACT (IDSA 2024)**. 1. artesunate_iv 2.4 mg/kg IV at 0, 12, 24 h then daily IV 0/12/24 h then daily until tolerating PO (artemisinin, first line) — SEAQUAMAT / AQUAMAT — superior to quinine (IDSA 2024) 2. artemether_lumefantrine 4 tablets BID × 3 d (≥35 kg) PO BID × 3 d (ACT, first line) — Most widely used ACT (IDSA 2024) 3. quinine 20 mg/kg IV load + 10 mg/kg q8h IV load + q8h (cinchona_alkaloid, second line) — Backup; cinchonism, hypoglycemia (IDSA 2024) 4. clindamycin 20 mg/kg/d divided IV/PO TID (lincosamide, add on) — Pregnancy 1st trimester regimen with quinine (IDSA 2024) Setting playbook (outpatient) — Treat uncomplicated, ensure radical cure for vivax/ovale, education (IDSA 2024) 5. artemether-lumefantrine 4 tabs BID × 3 d PO with fat BID × 3 d — Uncomplicated falciparum (IDSA 2024) (WHO first-line) 6. chloroquine + primaquine CQ 600 then 300 at 6/24/48 h + primaquine 30 mg × 14 d PO per regimen — Vivax / ovale, G6PD normal (IDSA 2024) (Radical cure (IDSA 2024)) 7. tafenoquine 300 mg 300 mg single dose PO single — Vivax / ovale ≥16 yr, G6PD ≥70% (IDSA 2024) (DETECTIVE single dose (IDSA 2024)) Non-pharmacologic actions: - Repeat smear at d3, d7, d28 (IDSA 2024) - Report case to public health (IDSA 2024) - Travel + chemoprophylaxis education (IDSA 2024) AVOID / contraindication checks: - Artesunate post artesunate hemolysis monitor CBC weekly x4 (IDSA 2024) - Quinine hypoglycemia monitor glucose (IDSA 2024) - Artemisinin pregnancy 1st trimester data evolving (IDSA 2024)
Monitoring
Regimen monitoring: - smear q12h until clearance (IDSA 2024) - glucose q4h (IDSA 2024) - CBC q24h then weekly x4 post artesunate (IDSA 2024) - BMP lactate q12h until resolved (IDSA 2024) Setting (outpatient) monitoring: - Follow-up smears (IDSA 2024) Follow-up plan: ID clinic, chemoprophylaxis counselling, relapse counselling vivax/ovale (IDSA 2024) - Close-out criterion: Follow-up booked Monitoring phase: Smear q12h until clearance, glucose q4h, CBC, BMP, lactate, post-artesunate hemolysis CBC weekly × 4 wks (IDSA 2024)
Disposition
Current setting: outpatient — Treat uncomplicated, ensure radical cure for vivax/ovale, education (IDSA 2024) Disposition criteria: - Discharge with follow-up (IDSA 2024) Escalation triggers (move to higher acuity): - Severity criteria → ED (IDSA 2024) - Pregnancy → admit (IDSA 2024)
Earlier-Return Triggers
Return-precaution thresholds (watch for): - [LIFE_THREATENING] WHO severe malaria criteria — GCS <11, seizure, lactate >5, parasitemia >5%, hypoglycemia, Hb <7, AKI, jaundice, shock, DIC, pulm edema - [LIFE_THREATENING] Coma / GCS <11 with falciparum (IDSA 2024) - [SEVERE] Malaria in pregnancy (IDSA 2024)
Citations
- WHO 2023 Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria; CDC Yellow Book 2024 [PMID:16125588](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16125588/) - Cited evidence (PMID 21062666) [PMID:21062666](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21062666/) - Cited evidence (PMID 30650322) [PMID:30650322](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30650322/) Last reconciled with current guidelines: 2026-05-22.
- WHO 2023 Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria; CDC Yellow Book 2024 — PMID:16125588
- Cited evidence (PMID 21062666) — PMID:21062666
- Cited evidence (PMID 30650322) — PMID:30650322