Pharmaceutical compositions for treating malaria

The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating a patient suffering from malaria. The pharmaceutical composition of the invention includes a therapeutically effective amount of pyrithione, pyrithione chelate, pyrithione disulfide, pyridine-2-ones, pyridine-2-thiones, or pyrithione salt, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutical composition of the invention is preferably administered to the patient in a non-oral form, such as a dermal patch, topical cream, anal suppository, intravenous injection, or nasal inhalant, in order to minimize the breakdown of the active ingredients and provide maximum therapeutic benefit to the patient.