Improved Diagnostic Testing and Malaria Treatment Practices in Zambia

Abstract
Malaria is characterized by gross overdiagnosis and overtreatment; 32% to 96% of febrile patients have an antimalarial prescribed without evidence of peripheral Plasmodium falciparum infection, depending on the background level of malaria transmission.1-4 The recent introduction of efficacious but expensive artemisinin-based combination therapy for malaria throughout Africa has led to renewed interest in improving the accuracy of diagnosis.1,5,6