Malaria

Malaria remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide and a cause of morbidity in returning travellers in the UK. The management of malaria, recent advances in diagnosis and current areas of controversy are summarized, primarily for clinicians in countries where malaria is non-endemic, who do not routinely encounter it. The most important message is that malaria is very common and its presentation is non-specific, so a malaria test is essential. Early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment prevent unnecessary deaths. Health promotion for travellers to endemic areas is essential to reduce the burden of imported malaria.