TABLE 17.5.

Drug Doses for Severe Malaria

Drug	Dose	Notes
Artesunate	2.4 mg/kg at 0 h, 12 h, 24 h	Give for a minimum of 24 h Continue treatment until the patient can eat and drink Treat with an ACT at standard dose
	2.4 mg/kg daily
Artesunate children	3 mg/kg at 0 h, 12 h, 24 h
	3 mg/kg daily
Artemether	3.2 mg/kg IM on 0 h
	1.6 mg/kg 24 h
	1.6 mg/kg daily
Quinine salt	20 mg/kg infused over 4 h	Quinine can be infused in crystalloid (e.g., dextrose 5%, dextrose saline)
	4 h off infusion	Give for a minimum of 24 h
	10 mg/kg infused over 4 h	Monitor glucose every 2 hours during infusion
	4 h off infusion	Continue treatment until the patient can eat and drink
	10 mg/kg infused over 4 h	Treat with an ACT at standard dose
	4 h off infusion, etc.	Give IM into anterior thigh if venous access is challenging

ACT, Artemisinin-based combination; h, hour(s); IM, intramuscular