Rapid diagnostic tests to improve treatment of malaria and other febrile illnesses: patient randomised effectiveness trial in primary care clinics in Afghanistan.

Objective: To assess the impact of rapid diagnostic tests on the diagnostic accuracy and treatment of malaria and non-severe fever in an Asian setting.

Design: Patient randomised trial in primary level clinics.

Setting: Two areas of Afghanistan where Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are endemic; one area with moderate transmission (eastern region) and one with low transmission (northern region).

Overdiagnosis and mistreatment of malaria among febrile patients at primary healthcare level in Afghanistan: observational study.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of malaria diagnosis and treatment at primary level clinics in Afghanistan.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: 22 clinics in two Afghan provinces, one in the north (adjoining Tajikistan) and one in the east (adjoining Pakistan); areas with seasonal transmission of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum.