What follow-up care is recommended for patients who have been treated for malaria to monitor for potential complications?

Follow-up care for patients treated for malaria involves clinical and parasitological monitoring to detect potential complications and relapses.

• Patients treated for falciparum malaria should be admitted for at least 24 hours to ensure treatment tolerance and effective reduction of parasitaemia, allowing rapid intervention if deterioration occurs.
• Outpatient management may be considered only if daily clinical and parasitological monitoring is available until infection clearance, especially for uncomplicated non-falciparum malaria.
• Patients should be advised to report any recurrence of symptoms such as fever, as relapses can occur due to treatment failure or drug resistance.
• Blood tests are required after treatment with intravenous artesunate to monitor for haemolysis, a known complication.
• Pregnant women and children require close monitoring due to higher risk of complications; neonates born to mothers with malaria should be screened at birth and weekly up to 28 days.
• All cases must be notified to public health authorities for surveillance.
• Patients should be informed about the risk of future malaria episodes and advised on preventive measures and chemoprophylaxis for future travel.

In summary, follow-up includes clinical observation, parasitological testing, monitoring for haemolysis if artesunate was used, vigilance for relapse symptoms, and public health notification.

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