Monitoring cases of malaria Three field assistants (FAs) will be stationed in the community and will do weekly surveys in households with children with either malaria or history of fever in the previous 7 days. A case of malaria will be any child, who either currently has a fever (axillary temperature >37.5 C) and any parasitaemia) or has a history of fever in 48 hours prior to the survey plus any parasitaemia. Information regarding health-seeking behaviour by the caretaker for the child with fever and related costs will be obtained by use of a questionnaire. Finger prick blood samples for Hb and malaria parasitaemia will be taken from the child. The Hb will be obtained by use of a portable haemoglobin photometer (HemoCue) while a thick malaria slide will be examined under a microscope. The FAs will give appropriate information regarding malaria control and treatment to the caretakers.