Scientists Report that Misdiagnosis of Malaria is Common

Scientists Report that Misdiagnosis of Malaria is Common

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An African child dies of malaria every
30 seconds.

Misdiagnosis of malaria is common and the term "malaria" itself has a variety of meanings, according to one of the supplement's papers submitted by researchers from Ghana and Malawi. Because malaria's symptoms often mimic other diseases, it is often under-diagnosed in areas where incidence is rare, they report. Conversely, in endemic areas many people diagnosed with malaria may have the indicative parasite loads, but are in fact suffering from a different disease or condition. The presence of parasites doesn't necessarily indicate disease and many people in high-transmission areas learn to tolerate parasitemia. In the clinical setting, misdiagnosed patients may receive unnecessary medication, raising the cost of treatment and likelihood of parasite drug-resistance development. At a more global level, misdiagnosis may cause problems in clinical trials for new treatments and may interfere with the evaluation of current programs.

The authors call for a clarification of malaria's definition on two fronts. In the clinic, doctors need to identify more "signature" symptoms, such as a distinctive retinopathy, that can segregate malaria from other illnesses.