Malaria Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium protozoa which is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito.
How many species of Plasmodium cause disease in humans?
There are four different species which cause disease in man.
What are the four species of Plasmodium that cause malaria?
The four species are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae.
Which species of Plasmodium causes nearly all episodes of severe malaria?
Plasmodium falciparum causes nearly all episodes of severe malaria.
Which species of Plasmodium is the most common?
Plasmodium vivax is the most common species.
What type of malaria do the other three Plasmodium species cause?
The other three types cause ‘benign’ malaria.
What is a well-documented protective factor against malaria?
The protection from malaria that sickle-cell trait offers is well documented.
What are other protective factors against malaria?
Other protective factors include G6PD deficiency, HLA-B53, and absence of Duffy antigens.
Life cycle malaria parasite
What is Falciparum malaria?
Falciparum malaria is the commonest and most severe type of malaria.
What are the classical symptoms of Falciparum malaria?
The classical triad of symptoms includes paroxysms of fever, chills, and sweating.
How often do symptoms occur in Falciparum malaria?
Symptoms may occur every 48 hours corresponding to the erythrocytic cycle of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
What are common initial manifestations of Falciparum malaria?
Initial manifestations can include malaise, headache, and myalgia.
What is the hallmark symptom of malaria?
Fever is the hallmark of malaria, typically cyclical, often accompanied by sweating and sometimes rigors.
What gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with Falciparum malaria?
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are frequent; diarrhea can occasionally occur, more commonly in children.
What respiratory symptoms may occur in Falciparum malaria?
Cough and, in some cases, mild tachypnoea may occur, though primary respiratory complications are rare in non-severe cases.
What neurological symptoms are common in Falciparum malaria?
Headache is prominent and often severe; dizziness and sleep disturbances may also be observed.
What cardiovascular symptoms may be present in Falciparum malaria?
Tachycardia may be evident; hypotension is more typical of severe malaria but can occasionally be seen in non-severe cases.
What haematological findings are significant in Falciparum malaria?
Thrombocytopaenia is the most significant finding and can occur in the absence of severe disease; mild anaemia may also be present.
What renal symptoms may occur in Falciparum malaria?
Mild to moderate increases in creatinine or blood urea nitrogen levels may be observed.
What are features of severe Falciparum malaria?
Features include schizonts on a blood film, parasitaemia > 2%, hypoglycaemia, acidosis, temperature > 39 °C, and severe anaemia.
What complications can arise from severe Falciparum malaria?
Complications include cerebral malaria (seizures, coma), acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hypoglycaemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
What is the first-line therapy for uncomplicated Falciparum malaria?
The 2010 WHO guidelines recommend artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as first-line therapy.
What are examples of artemisinin-based combination therapies?
Examples include artemether plus lumefantrine, artesunate plus amodiaquine, artesunate plus mefloquine, artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine.
