Malaria

Titles

All titles Clinical Sense Prognosis: Your Diagnosis Explain Medicine QBank Prepper

Medicine

Last updated on:
December 2^nd, 2020

Medicine

Last updated on:
December 2^nd, 2020

Hi there!

You’re looking at a short reference article from Explain Medicine (one of four distinct learning formats available in Clinical Odyssey). Try it out, and have fun improving your clinical skills.

Clinicals - History

Fact	Explanation
Introduction	Malaria is a mosquito-borne protozoan infection caused by Plasmodium spp transmitted to humans via the species of the Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is most prevalent in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Febrile episodes	Patients with malaria classically present paroxysms consisting of several hours of fever and chills every 48-72 hours depending on the species. These episodes are caused by the cyclic rupture of mature schizonts in the blood and the resulting activation of cytokines.
Cerebral malaria	Patients with cerebral malaria (CM) due to P. falciparum can develop confusion, drowsiness, convulsions, and coma due to cerebral tissue hypoxia from microvascular obstruction and endothelial activation, with pro-inflammatory cytokines likely playing a role. P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is expressed on the surface membrane of RBCs, leading to cytoadherence with points of attachment on the endothelium, resulting in blood vessel blockage.
Incubation period	The incubation period for P. falciparum ranges from 9 days to 14-30 days, 12-17 for P. vivax, and up to 40 days for P. malarie.
Uncomplicated malaria	Patients with uncomplicated malaria may present with non-specific flu-like symptoms, such as headache, cough, myalgia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea due to release of proinflammatory mediators.
Complicated malaria	Complicated malaria can present with CM, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and jaundice. In children, severe malaria can present with CM, anemia, and acidosis. This is caused by infected erythrocytes binding to the endothelium of blood vessels, leading to microvascular obstruction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, the release of proinflammatory mediators, and cerebral edema.

Introduction

Malaria is a mosquito-borne protozoan infection caused by Plasmodium spp transmitted to humans via the species of the Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is most prevalent in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Febrile episodes

Patients with malaria classically present paroxysms consisting of several hours of fever and chills every 48-72 hours depending on the species. These episodes are caused by the cyclic rupture of mature schizonts in the blood and the resulting activation of cytokines.

Cerebral malaria

Patients with cerebral malaria (CM) due to P. falciparum can develop confusion, drowsiness, convulsions, and coma due to cerebral tissue hypoxia from microvascular obstruction and endothelial activation, with pro-inflammatory cytokines likely playing a role. P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is expressed on the surface membrane of RBCs, leading to cytoadherence with points of attachment on the endothelium, resulting in blood vessel blockage.

Incubation period

The incubation period for P. falciparum ranges from 9 days to 14-30 days, 12-17 for P. vivax, and up to 40 days for P. malarie.

Uncomplicated malaria

Patients with uncomplicated malaria may present with non-specific flu-like symptoms, such as headache, cough, myalgia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea due to release of proinflammatory mediators.

Complicated malaria

Complicated malaria can present with CM, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and jaundice. In children, severe malaria can present with CM, anemia, and acidosis. This is caused by infected erythrocytes binding to the endothelium of blood vessels, leading to microvascular obstruction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, the release of proinflammatory mediators, and cerebral edema.

Want to continue reading?

Subscribe to Clinical Odyssey today.

Enjoy unlimited access to 700+ learning modules.
Safely improve your skills, anytime and anywhere.
Get answers to your follow-up questions from practicing physicians.

Learn more ➜