Malaria Flashcards
What are the 5 types of malaria?
- Plasmodium falciparum
(“Non-falciparum malaria”)
- P.vivax
- P.ovale
- P.malariae
- P.knowlesi
What is the initial management of patients with falciparum malaria?
Hospital admission initially due to risk of rapid deterioration even after starting treatment
*if the infective species is not known or the infection is mixed and includes falciparum, initial treatment should be as for falciparum malaria
What is the treatment of choice for uncomplicated P.falciparum malaria?
“Artemisinin combination therapy”
FIRST LINE:
- artemether with lumefantrine
SECOND LINE:
- artenimol with piperaquine phosphate
THIRD LINE:
- oral quinine
- atovaquone with proguanil hydrochloride
**quinine is highly effective but poorly tolerated in prolonged treatment and should be used in combination with an additional drug, usually oral doxycycline or clindamycin in pregnant women and young children
What are the main contraindications to using artemether with lumefantrine? (5)
(Risk factors for cardiotoxicity)
- Family history of congenital QT interval prolongation
- Family history of sudden death
- History of arrhythmias
- History of clinically relevant bradycardia
- History of congestive heart failure accompanied by reduced LVEF
What are the main contraindications to using artenimol with piperaquine phosphate? (10)
(Risk factors for cardiotoxicity, torsades de pointes)
- Acute MI
- Bradycardia
- Congenital long QT syndrome
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Family history of sudden death
- Heart failure with reduced LVEF
- History of symptomatic arrhythmias
- LVH
- Risk factors for QT interval prolongation
- Severe hypertension
What are the main contraindications to chloroquine use? (4)
- Hemoglobinuria
- Myasthenia gravis
- Optic neuritis
- Tinnitus
(Caution used in patients with risk factors for cardiac toxicity eg Afib, cardiac disease, conduction defects, heart block, etc. as well as first trimester pregnancy and G6PD deficiency)
What are the key features of quinine overdose? (2)
Quinine is very toxic in overdose
- Life-threatening arrhythmias (can be very rapid onset)
- Convulsions (can be intractable)
What are the main side effects of quinine? (7)
- Tinnitus (may be permanent)
- Deafness (may be permanent)
- Blindness (may be permanent)
- GI upset
- Prolongs QT interval, may cause arrhythmias
- Hypoglycemia
- Leg cramps
Quinine should be prescribed with caution in which patients? (3)
- Existing hearing or visual loss
- First trimester pregnancies (teratogenic)
- G6PD deficiency
What are the main contraindications to the use of atovaquone with proguanil hydrochloride?
None
Caution used if diarrhea or vomiting (reduced absorption)
What are the neuro-psychiatric side effects of some antimalarial drugs?
Neuro:
- movement disorders
- neuromyopathy
- seizure
Psychiatric:
- hallucinations
- psychotic disorder
- personality change
- insomnia
- anxiety
- confusion
**particularly with chloroquine and mefloquine; frequency rare or not known
What is the treatment of choice for severe or complicated falciparum malaria?
Should be managed in a high dependency unit or intensive care setting
FIRST LINE:
- IV artesunate min 24 hours followed by a full course of oral artemisinin combination therapy
SECOND LINE:
- IV artesunate min 24 hours followed by a full course of oral quinine with doxycycline (or clindamycin) OR atovaquone with proguanil
How should patients with severe or complicated falciparum malaria be managed in the absence of artesunate therapy?
Do not delay treatment if artesunate is not immediately available; quinine by IV infusion should be given until the patient can take oral quinine to complete a full course
What is meant by “Artemisinin combination therapy?”
Artemisinin derivatives include artesunate, artenimol, and artemether. These drugs are combined with a second drug to increase efficacy against malaria
FIRST LINE:
- artemether with lumefantrine
SECOND LINE:
- artenimol with piperaquine phosphate
Why are chloroquine and mefloquine avoided in treatment of malaria?
P.falciparum is now resistant to chloroquine in most parts of the world
Mefloquine is no longer recommended use to severe adverse effects leading to non-completion of drug courses (ie neuropsychiatric symptoms)
What is the main concern regarding falciparum malaria in pregnancy?
Falciparum malaria in pregnancy carries a higher risk of severe disease, requiring prompt treatment by specialists in hospital and close observation