Module
Malaria Prevention and Rapid Testing
Cards, questions, and — once processing runs — per-language translation status for this module.
Cards (6)
Who is at highest risk
Children under five and pregnant women are most likely to develop severe malaria. Any fever in these groups should be treated as malaria until a test proves otherwise.
Using a rapid diagnostic test
Prick the finger, collect one drop of blood in the sample well, then add the buffer. Read the result at 15 minutes - never before 10 or after 30, as the result becomes unreliable outside that window.
Reading the test line
Two lines, even if one is faint, means positive. One line in the control window only means negative. No line in the control window means the test is invalid and must be repeated with a new device.
First-line treatment
Give artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for a confirmed positive test. Complete the full course even if the child feels better after one or two days - stopping early is how resistant parasites survive.
Danger signs needing urgent referral
Refer immediately if the child cannot drink or breastfeed, has repeated vomiting, convulsions, or is unusually drowsy or unconscious. These signal possible severe malaria and cannot be managed at community level.
Prevention between visits
Insecticide-treated bed nets should be used every night, not just in the rainy season. Encourage the household to check the net for holes and re-treat it as instructed by the distribution programme.
Assessment questions (5)
How long should you wait before reading a rapid diagnostic test result?
- a5 minutes
- b10 minutes
- c15 minutes
- d45 minutes
Explanation: Reading before 10 minutes or after 30 minutes makes the result unreliable in either direction.
A faint second line on the test still counts as a positive result.
Correct answer: true
Explanation: Any visible test line - faint or strong - is read as positive; only a completely blank test line is negative.
What should you do if the control line does not appear at all?
- aRecord it as negative
- bRecord it as positive
- cRepeat the test with a new device
- dGive treatment anyway
Explanation: No control line means the test itself failed and gives no valid result in either direction.
It is safe to stop artemisinin-based combination therapy early once the child feels better.
Correct answer: false
Explanation: Stopping early lets surviving parasites become resistant; the full course must be completed regardless of how the child feels.
Which of these is a danger sign requiring immediate referral?
- aMild headache
- bRepeated vomiting
- cSlight loss of appetite
- dFeeling tired after play
Explanation: Repeated vomiting can be a sign of severe malaria and needs urgent referral rather than community-level management.