Case Detection, Treatment, and Follow-Up
Case Detection
All patients presenting with fever — especially with a history of travel to malaria-endemic countries — must be screened for malaria before any treatment is given. Laboratory confirmation through microscopy and/or RDT is mandatory for diagnosis.
If the patient is negative, continue microscopy for three consecutive days to confirm negativity.
Positive cases are validated through AMC reference laboratories using PCR and quality-assured microscopy to ensure diagnostic accuracy.
Treatment
Once malaria is confirmed:
- Treatment begins within two hours of laboratory confirmation.
- Patients are treated as inpatients under a consultant physician, following AMC’s Guidelines for the Management and Treatment of Patients with Malaria in Sri Lanka.
- All anti-malarial medicines are quality-assured and provided free of charge.
- Patients are managed under a Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) to prevent mosquito transmission.
Follow-Up
- Daily blood smears are taken during hospitalization until parasitemia clears.
- Post-discharge follow-up is arranged through the AMC and the Regional Malaria Officer.
- Patients are re-tested at scheduled intervals up to one year after diagnosis — more frequently for P. vivax or P. ovale cases requiring primaquine therapy.
- Patients are advised not to donate blood for 3 years following infection.
This structured process ensures rapid cure, prevents drug resistance, and eliminates potential sources of transmission.