ABSTRACT
Objective To identify the problem in the diagnosis and report of different types of malaria in China and provide evidence for making malaria control and elimination strategy and measurement. Methods All data are obtained from Disease Reporting Information System of China CDC, and the percentages, diagnosis methods and onset-diagnosis duration are described and compared among different malaria types and various report institutions. Results The overall number of reported cases declined by 71.77% during 2005-2008, with a relatively high percent for type-unconfirmed malaria. The percentages of laboratory diagnosis for falciparum malaria and vivax malaria were 91.44% and 71.14%, respectively. 28.22% of vivax malaria were diagnosed by using clinical diagnosis method, and 22.45% of type-unconfirmed malaria by using laboratory diagnosis method. 37.54% of falciparum malaria and 71.79% of vivax malaria were reported by hospitals in villages and towns, and 33.41% of falciparum malaria by general hospitals. The onset-diagnosis durations for falciparum malaria, vivax malaria and type-unconfirmed malaria were 72 h, 96 h and 72 h, respectively. Conclusions The laboratory diagnosis level is not good enough, though it is the main method for malaria diagnosis in China. The ability of laboratory diagnosis for malaria should be further strengthened in gross root medical institutions to reach the goal of malaria elimination.