Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease and prevents deaths. It also contributes to reducing malaria transmission.
The best available treatment, particularly for P. falciparum malaria, is artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT).
WHO recommends that malaria be confirmed by parasite-based diagnosis before giving treatment. Results of parasitological confirmation can be available in a few minutes. Treatment solely on the basis of symptoms should only be considered when a parasitological diagnosis is not possible.
