Artemisia annua in the Treatment of Malaria, and as Prophylaxis in Case of Travelling to an Endemic Zone; Concerning a Clinical Case

Introduction: Artemisia (armoise) is a plant of the Asteracea family with different species all over the world. The Artemisia annua species of Chinese origin is known for its medicinal properties, mainly antimalarial. We present the case of a 38-year-old patient who suffered from malaria and was treated with Artemisia annua. This plant despite the controversy it creates, proved to be very efficient in the management of the patient from the onset of the symptoms till the recovery, and the patient also used it as a prophylaxis during other travels in an endemic zone. Objective: The objective of this study is to present a case of malaria in a patient considered naïve, who was treated with Artemisia annua. Method: The symptoms and clinical investigations are listed in chronological order of appearance and realization in the patient's consultation book. The tests were done in two different laboratories (one in Africa and the other in Europe), but the interpretation of results are comparable. A reference from the scientific literature on the subject was mentioned. Results: The follow-up of this patient showed a progressive subsidization of the symptoms within three days from the onset of symptoms and normalization of the clinico-biological parameters after ten days of treatment at a dose of 4 g of Artemisia leaves in a liter of water daily and consumed as herbal tea. Conclusion: The use of Artemisia annua as a treatment for malaria in naïve subjects could be effective. Its efficacy and cost-effectiveness need to be investigated in endemic countries, as it may represent an excellent first-line alternative in low-income healthcare systems.