A Prospective Comparative Study of Knowlesi, Falciparum, and Vivax Malaria in Sabah, Malaysia: High Proportion With Severe Disease From Plasmodium Knowlesi and Plasmodium Vivax But No Mortality With Early Referral and Artesunate Therapy

Background. Plasmodium knowlesi commonly causes severe malaria in Malaysian Borneo, with high case-fatality rates reported. We compared risk, spectrum, and outcome of severe disease from P. knowlesi, Plasmodium falciparum , and Plasmodium vivax and outcomes following introduction of protocols for early referral and intravenous artesunate for all severe malaria. Methods. From September 2010 to October 2011 we prospectively assessed nonpregnant patients aged 12 years admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Sabah, with polymerase chain reaction–confirmed Plasmodium monoinfection. Standardized... Mehr ...