Elizabeth A. AshleyNicholas J. WhiteShoklo Malaria Research UnitMahidol UniversityChurchill Hospital2018-06-212018-06-212005-01-01Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. Vol.18, No.6 (2005), 531-536095173752-s2.0-27744541969https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/17125Purpose of review: Artemisinin-based combination treatments have been the mainstay of treatment for falciparum malaria in Southeast Asia for more than 10 years and are now increasingly recommended as first-line treatment throughout the rest of the world. Recent findings: A large multicentre radomised trial conducted in East Asia has shown a 35% reduction in mortality from severe malaria following treatment with parenteral artesunate compared with quinine. There is increasing evidence that artemisinin-based combination treatments are safe and rapidly effective. Artemether-lumefantrine (six doses) has been shown to be very effective in large trials reported from Uganda and Tanzania. A once daily three-dose treatment of dihydroartemisinin piperaquine, a newer fixed combination, was a highly efficacious and well tolerated treatment for multi-drug resistant falciparum malaria in Southeast Asia. Summary: Early diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated malaria with effective drugs remains a priority as part of a comprehensive malaria control strategy. Artemisinin-based combination treatments have consistently been shown to be highly effective and safe. The challenge is to make them accessible in tropical countries. © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.Mahidol UniversityMedicineReviewSCOPUS10.1097/01.qco.0000186848.46417.6c