Current status of malaria

Malaria is a major international public health problem causing around 500 million infections worldwide and approximately one million deaths every year. Transmission occurs in large areas of Africa, central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia, eastern Europe and the South Pacific. Malaria is a rare diagnosis in Europe, the US and other developed countries, but it is a medical emergency. A travel history or living in endemic areas are the key to suspecting malaria, and this is a priority in patients with fever. There is no specific clinical symptomatology and immigrants from endemic regions might have mild symptoms. The diagnosis must be performed quickly on suspicion. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) should be performed but the gold standard is microscopy.