malaria

Question 1

what is malaria characterised by

Answer 1

Anaemia with normal sized red blood cells. - (all normocytic anaemias)

In this case, it occurs as a result of contracting malaria which is an infectious disease.

Question 2

what causes malaria

Answer 2

being bitten by a female
anopheles mosquito.

It is caused by the parasite protozoa, the most common being Plasmodium
falciparum

Question 3

pathophysiology of malaria

Answer 3

1. The mosquitoes produce sporozoites.
2. When bitten, these sporozoites travel to the liver and mature into merozoites.
3. These merozoites can then enter the blood and infect red blood cells.
4. They then mature into trophozoites and then schizonts and reproduce further in these cells causing the cell to rupture.
5. This leads to more merozoites being released into the blood destroying red blood cells.

Question 4

which parasites can lie dormant for months or years

Answer 4

P. ovale and P. vivax parasites, after
entering the liver as sporozoites, can lie
dormant as hypnozoites for months or
years.

Question 5

what is malaria associated with

Answer 5

travel to foreign countries

Question 6

symptoms of malaria

Answer 6

• Fever, sweats and rigors
• Fatigue
• Myalgia
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blackwater fever

Question 7

signs of malaria

Answer 7

• Anaemia
• Jaundice
• Pallor
• Hepatosplenomegaly

Question 8

4 types of parasites

Answer 8

• Plasmodium falciparum
• Plasmodium ovale
• Plasmodium vivax
• Plasmodium malariae

Question 9

2 investigations for malaria

Answer 9

1. FBC, U+E, LFT
2. malaria blood film

Question 10

what do FBC,U+E and LFT for malaria show

Answer 10

• Normocytic
• Normochromic
• Thrombocytopaenia
• Elevated LDH

Question 11

what does malaria blood film show

Answer 11

Will show the parasites, the type of
parasite and concentration.

3 Negative samples over 3
consecutive days are
required to exclude malaria.

Question 12

complications of malaria

Answer 12

(CRASHDOM):
Cerebral malaria
Reduced GCS
AKI
Seizures
Haemolytic anaemia
(severe)
DIC
Oedema
Multiorganfailureanddeath

Question 13

how to treat uncomplicated malaria

Answer 13

give anti - malarials

Question 14

5 examples of anti malarials

Answer 14

• Artemether with lumefantrine
  (Riamet)
• Quinine Sulphate
• Doxycycline
• Proguanil and atovaquone
  (malarone)
• Mefloquine

Question 15

how to treat complicated/severe malaria

Answer 15

• IV Artesunate
• IV Quinine Dihydrochloride