Artesunate is a fast-acting antimalarial medication used primarily for the treatment of severe malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It belongs to the artemisinin class of drugs and works by rapidly reducing the number of malaria parasites in the blood. Artesunate is typically administered by injection (intravenous or intramuscular) in hospital settings and is often followed by a complete course of oral antimalarials to ensure full recovery. It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of severe malaria due to its high efficacy and rapid action.