Malaria

Question 1

What causes malaria?

Answer 1

protozoan parasite
spread through mosquitos

Question 2

Can you get malaria in the UK?

Answer 2

no, it is associated with travel

Question 3

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Answer 3

fever and sweats/ rigours
myalgia (muscle aches and pains)
headache
nausea, vomiting

Question 4

What is the incubation period of malaria?

Answer 4

1-4 weeks

Question 5

What are the key examination signs of malaria?

Answer 5

pallor due to anaemia
hepatosplenomegaly
jaundice - bilirubin released during rupture of red blood cells

Question 6

How is malaria diagnosed?

Answer 6

using malaria blood film
3 negative samples over 3 consecutive days are required to exclude malaria ( because parasites are released into the blood every 48-72 hours)

Question 7

How is malaria treated?

Answer 7

uncomplicated malaria = artemether + lumefantrine
severe malaria = 1st line = IV artesunate, 2nd line = IV quinine dihydrochloride

Question 8

What are the potential complications of malaria?

Answer 8

cerebral malaria
organ failure
seizures
AKI
reduced consciousness
pulmonary oedema

Question 9

When is prophylaxis for malaria taken? And what is it?

Answer 9

when travelling to endemic areas
progunil with atovaquone