Malaria

Question 1

What parasitic specie causes malignant malaria?

Answer 1

Pl. falciparum

Question 2

What three parasitic species cause Benign malaria?

Answer 2

1-Pl Vivax
2-Pl ovale
3- Pl malariae

Question 3

An unarousable coma is characteristic of what?

Answer 3

Cerebral malaria

Question 4

Nostril flaring and intercostal retractions are characteristic of what?

Answer 4

Cerebral malaria with acidosis

Question 5

Who is at risk for death by malaria?

Answer 5

• Children 6 months-6 years
• non-immune adults
• pregnant especially first one (primigravida)
• emigrants returning home

Question 6

During the growth (trophozoite) stage of plasmodium falciparum, how do they appear in erythrocytes?

Answer 6

ring shaped with a bulging (like a diamond ring)

Question 7

As plasmodium falciparum grows, what does it do? What protein does it use to help do this?

Answer 7

Cytoadheres to the endothelial cells of the vasculature

uses a knob assembly - a transmembrane protein.

*allows it to evade splenic clearance

Question 8

The WHO recommends what treatment for malaria?

Answer 8

Artemisinin derivatives

Question 9

what are the only stages of cellular infection that we see from in vivo blood?

Answer 9

ring forms

Question 10

What are the five benefits to the parasite for sequestering themselves in the capillaries?

Answer 10

evade splenic clearance
post-capillary venule blood high in CO2 and thus is slightly acidic which encourages replication
Pl. falciparum infects RBC’s of any age

Question 11

Do we give oral or IV drugs for malaria?

Answer 11

IV because they are often unconscious and have poor GI absorption