Management of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria without PCR confirmation.
Plasmodium knowlesi morphologically resembles P. malariae; PCR assays are able to differentiate between the 2 species correctly. However, PCR is not available in many hospitals in P. knowlesi endemic areas, particularly in Southeast Asia. In places where PCR is not available, anti-malarial drugs for P. malariae or other non-P. falciparum or P. falciparum species are effective against P. knowlesi. Even with a wrong diagnosis of another malaria species by light microscopy instead of P. knowlesi, the antimalarial drugs given are still effective for treating P. knowlesi infection.
Wilairatanal
Polrat
P
Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Center for Clinical Management of Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. tmpwl@mahidol.ac.th
Krudsood
Srivicha
S
Tangpukdee
Noppadon
N
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D016790:Plasmodium knowlesi; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000962:Antimalarials