Nicholas M. DouglasNicholas M. AnsteyPierre A. BuffetJeanne R. PoespoprodjoTsin W. YeoNicholas J. WhiteRic N. PriceMenzies School of Health ResearchNuffield Department of Clinical MedicineRoyal Darwin HospitalUniversite Pierre et Marie CurieHopital Pitie SalpetriereInstitut Pasteur, ParisMimika District Health AuthorityPapuan Health and Community Development FoundationMahidol University2018-06-112018-06-112012-06-19Malaria Journal. Vol.11, (2012)147528752-s2.0-84862234371https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/14304Plasmodium vivax threatens nearly half the worlds population and is a significant impediment to achievement of the millennium development goals. It is an important, but incompletely understood, cause of anaemia. This review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and consequences of vivax-associated anaemia. Young children are at high risk of clinically significant and potentially severe vivax-associated anaemia, particularly in countries where transmission is intense and relapses are frequent. Despite reaching lower densities than Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax causes similar absolute reduction in red blood cell mass because it results in proportionately greater removal of uninfected red blood cells. Severe vivax anaemia is associated with substantial indirect mortality and morbidity through impaired resilience to co-morbidities, obstetric complications and requirement for blood transfusion. Anaemia can be averted by early and effective anti-malarial treatment. © 2012 Douglas et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineReviewSCOPUS10.1186/1475-2875-11-135