As per IMNCI guidelines, a 2-year-old child presents with fever for 3 days in a high malaria-endemic area. What is the correct first step in management?

Correct option is B

IMNCI recommends that in malaria-endemic areas, every child with fever should be tested with rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or peripheral smear before treatment.
Explanation of options: (a) ✘ Antibiotics are given only if signs of bacterial infection present. (b) ✔ Correct; fever in endemic area → test for malaria first. (c) ✘ Paracetamol relieves fever but does not treat the cause. (d) ✘ Referral is for severe malaria signs, not simple fever.