Artesunate for the Treatment of Severe Falciparum Malaria

A previously well, American-born 35-year-old man presents with a 5-day history of fever and progressive dyspnea and a 2-day history of jaundice. An evaluation 3 days before his presentation led to a diagnosis of a viral syndrome. The patient had returned 3 weeks earlier from a 1-month stay in West Africa. He reports receiving immunizations before travel and taking pills to prevent malaria weekly until his return to the United States.