Literature review: A comparison of the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) versus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in patients

Background: Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, poses a persistent global health challenge exacerbated by rising multidrug resistance (MDR). While artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have significantly reduced malaria mortality, the threat of resistance highlights the need for optimised treatment strategies. Objective: This literature review compares the therapeutic efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP) in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria to inform treatment optimisation. Method: A review of literature published between 2019 and 2024 was undertaken, encompassing 13 peer-reviewed studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The findings were synthesised narratively. Result: Analysis reveals robust efficacy for both AL (96–98.6%) and DHP (98.8–100%), surpassing the World Health Organisation’s 95% efficacy benchmark. Notably, DHP demonstrated superior results in most studies. Conclusion: The study highlights the consistent efficacy of AL and DHP, with DHP showing a slight advantage. These insights underscore the importance of maintaining sustained surveillance of antimalarial resistance and adhering to best practices in endemic regions.