Klin Farmakol Farm. 2018;32(2):20-27 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2018.011

Malaria, its treatment and prophylaxis

Šimon Karkalík, Jana Rudá‑Kučerová

Masarykova univerzita, Lékařská fakulta, Farmakologický ústav, Brno

Malaria is a severe parasitic disease primarily affecting the tropical zone. It is caused by the in-host life cycle phase’s developmentof protozoa from Plasmodium family. It is transmitted between humans by a vector – the mosquito from the family Anopheles. InCzech Republic as well as in other countries of Europe, it is only an imported infection that is brought here by travelers returningfrom endemic countries. Without the necessary treatment, malaria may be fatal, and therefore malaria stays a global problem. Inrecent years, artemisinin and its derivatives became prominent in successful treatment of the disease, delivered in combinationwith longer acting antimalarial drugs in the treatment of uncomplicated infections in all types of parasites with very successfulresults. Intravenously administered artesunat is also used in treatment of severe forms. Chloroquine remains important in someregions in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria caused by P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae, and P. knowlesi, and primachin forthe elimination of P. vivax and P. ovale hypnozoids. Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis carries significant contribution in preventionof malaria.

Keywords: malaria, therapy, antimalarial drugs, antimalarial chemoprophylaxis, indication, contraindication

Published: August 13, 2018  Show citation