Malaria Flashcards
what causes malaria
parasitic infection by the protozoan of genus plasmodium
how many species of plasmodium are there
5
what is the most life threatening plasmodium
Plasmodium falciparum
how is malaria transmitted
It is naturally transmitted to humans through a bite by an infected female Anopheles mosquito but may potentially be transmitted by blood transfusion or organ transplantation
it grows in red blood cells
individuals with which conditions have innate immunity to malaria
sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia
G6PD deficiency
pyruvate kinase deficiency
how long can malarias incubation period be
up to 1 year
what is the definition of incubation period
the time from when someone is infected with a pathogen to when they first start showing signs of disease
risk factors
travel to endemic areas
weak immune system
presenting symptoms of malaria
SYMPTOMS ARE CYCLICAL
severe headache,
fever,
weakness,
myalgia and arthralgia,
anorexia
diarrhoea
flu-like symptoms
sweating- shivering cold/ riggers
anaemia and hepato/splenomegaly (on examination)
how do the symptoms present
they are cyclical- come and go
symptoms of cerebral malaria
headache, confusion, coma
investigations for malaria
Giemsa stained thin and thick blood smears
rapid diagnostic tests,
FBC
clotting profile
U&Es
LFTs
blood glucose
urinalysis to check for blood/ protein (haematuria or proteinuria)
what will you see on a blood smear in someone with malaria
you can identify the type of malaria on thin blood films
you can identify the quantity on a thick blood film
treatment of malaria
antimalarial regimen
