Malaria Flashcards
What is Malaria?
Infection with protozoan Plasmodium
Describe the aetiology of malaria
Transmitted by female Anopheles mosquito bite
Protozoa grow in RBCs
List 3 symptoms of malaria
Flu-like symptoms
Severe sweating
Shivering cold/ rigors
List 4 signs of malaria
Pyrexia
Anaemia (haemolytic)
Jaundice
Hepatosplenomegaly
What are the 5 types of plasmodium?
Mosquitos Know Our Vital Fear Plasmodium malariae Plasmodium knowlesi Plasmodium ovale. Plasmodium vivax Plasmodium falciparum
Describe the nature of symptoms of malaria
CYCLICAL
Interval between cycles of Sx are slightly different in different types of malaria
What is significant about malaria diagnosis?
Its a Notifiable disease
List 3 high risk areas for malaria
Africa
Asia
S+C America
Which 4 populations have immunity to malaria?
Sickle cell trait
G6PD deficiency
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Thalassemia
List 3 symptoms of cerebral malaria
Headache
Disorientation
Coma
What blood films should be performed for malaria?
Thick/Thin Blood Films: on 3 consecutive days
Thick for quantifying
Thin for identifying type of malaria
What special investigation may be used for malaria?
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs): detect presence of malaria antigen/ enzyme (but poor detection of species other than P. falciparum)
What bedside investigations should be performed for suspected malaria?
FBC: thrombocytopenia, anaemia U+Es: normal/ mildy impaired LFTs: High BR or aminotransferases Glucose: hypo or hyper ABG: metabolic/ lactic acidosis Urinalysis: blood or protein
What is the drug of choice for treating malaria falciparum?
Artesunate
What is the drug of choice for treating the benign (chronic) forms of malaria?
Primaquine
Prevent relapse
