Infectious Disease Travel Medicine Emergency Medicine A
WHO Severe Malaria Criteria
WHO 2015 criteria for severe P. falciparum malaria requiring parenteral artesunate and ITU-level care.
Score interpretation
Uncomplicated Malaria 0
No severe criteria: Uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria
→ Oral artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT); outpatient if reliable follow-up; recheck in 48h
Severe Malaria 1–11
≥1 WHO severe criteria: Severe malaria
→ IV artesunate (first-line); ICU admission; check blood glucose; exchange transfusion if hyperparasitaemia >30%; urgent specialist review
Interpretation bands for the Severe Malaria. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- WHO. Severe malaria. Trop Med Int Health. 2014;19 Suppl 1:7-131.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Drugs
- Quinine · Antimalarial — Severe / Complicated Malaria (IV) / Nocturnal Cramps (Oral)
- Tezepelumab (CRSwNP / Severe Asthma) · Anti-TSLP (Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin) Monoclonal Antibody
- Prednisolone (Oral — General Medicine) · Oral Corticosteroid
- Atovaquone · Antiparasitic / Antifungal — PCP Prophylaxis / Treatment / Malaria
- Hydroxychloroquine · Aminoquinoline — Malaria Prophylaxis / SLE / Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Artesunate · Artemisinin Derivative Antimalarial
Pathways
- Infective Endocarditis · ESC 2023 Infective Endocarditis Guidelines; NICE NG41
- Eczema Herpeticum · BAD; NICE CKS
- Suspected Bacterial Meningitis (Adult) · NICE NG240 (2024); NICE NG143 (paeds)
- Clostridioides difficile Colitis · NICE NG199 (2021); IDSA/SHEA 2021
- Returning Traveller — Fever · NaTHNaC; PHE; ESCMID 2018
- Malaria — Diagnosis & Management · PHE 2016; WHO 2023
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.