Malaria trends in general practice in Karachi, Pakistan

Malaria has been a common protozoal disease since times prehistoric. It has regained global importance after the emergence of drug-resistant strains of plasmodia and resistance of mosquitoes to commonly used insecticides. This study was done to assess the magnitude of malaria as a cause of febrile illness in Karachi and trends of malaria treatment in general practice. The malarial parasite was found present in peripheral blood of 456 out of 50.000 febrile patients [0.91%] and plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species [52%]. Trends in general practice regarding treatment of malaria are inappropriate and need to be brought in line and practiced according to the recommendations of W.H.O. Pharmaceutical drug promotion pressures must not be allowed to influence the principles and practice of scientific medical care in clinical practice