malaria

Question 1

what causes malaria?

Answer 1

caused by a blood protozoa/parasite (plasmodium species) that is transmitted by night-biting Anopheles mosquitoes.

P. falciparum results in the most serious illness. Approximately 90 percent of malaria cases originate in Africa. Other common species: P. vivax, P. ovale (mostly SE Asia).

Question 2

how do patients with malaria present?

Answer 2

Abrupt onset of rigors followed by high fevers, malaise, severe headache and myalgia, vague abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.

may get diarrhoea

may have jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly

Question 3

what will the the features of the blood results be in a patient with sepsis?

Answer 3

Bloods: anaemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and abnormal liver-associated enzymes often accompany clinical illness

Question 4

what are the complications of an untreated P falciprium infection?

Answer 4

hypoglycemia, renal failure, pulmonary oedema, and neurologic deterioration, leading to death.

Question 5

how is malaria treated in both falciprium and non falciprium cases?

Answer 5

If the infective species is not known, or if the infection is mixed, initial treatment should be as for falciparum malaria with quinine

Non-falciparum malaria is usually caused by Plasmodium vivax and less commonly by P. ovale and P. malariae. P. knowlesi is also present in the Asia-Pacific region. Chloroquine is the drug of choice