EARLY DIAGNOSIS, ANTIMALARIALS, AND *PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM* MALARIA ELIMINATION STRATEGIES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Malaria remains a major global public health problem, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, where it continues to be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The persistence of asymptomatic reservoirs, challenges related to early diagnosis, and the emergence of antimalarial drug-resistant strains represent significant obstacles to malaria control and elimination programs. This study aimed to analyze the main strategies currently employed to reduce transmission and strengthen global efforts to combat malaria. To achieve this, a qualitative, descriptive bibliographic review was conducted using the PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine and the Virtual Health Library (VHL) maintained by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The descriptors were selected from the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and combined using the Boolean operator AND. The analyzed studies demonstrated that interventions such as mass drug administration, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, expanding access to early diagnosis, and ensuring adherence to appropriate therapeutic regimens contributed to reducing the incidence and prevalence of malaria across different epidemiological settings. Furthermore, malaria remains associated with significant clinical consequences, particularly among pregnant women and other vulnerable populations. It is therefore concluded that the integration of timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and continuous surveillance constitutes a fundamental strategy for advancing malaria elimination programs.