Malaria

Question 1

Malaria incubation period

Answer 1

Usually 1-2 weeks but up to a year

Question 2

Malaria transmission

Answer 2

Anopheles mosquito

Question 3

Malaria causative organisms

Answer 3

Plasmodium species

• P. falciparum
• P. vivax/ovale
• P. malaria

Question 4

Most common and serious malaria causative organism

Answer 4

Plasmodium falciparum

Question 5

Malaria endemic in which world areas

Answer 5

Tropics, affects 250 million people worldwide yearly

Question 6

Conditions providing innate protection against malaria

Answer 6

• Sickle cell trait
• G6PD deficiency
• Pyruvate kinase deficiency
• Thalassaemias

Question 7

Symptoms of malaria

Answer 7

Headache
Weakness
Myalgia/arthalgia
Anorexia
Fever (cyclical)

Question 8

Characteristic paroxysms of severe cold/rigors followed by severe sweating

Answer 8

Malaria

Question 9

Signs of malaria

Answer 9

Pyrexia (cyclical)
Anaemia
Splenomegaly

Question 10

Malaria Ix

Answer 10

Thick + thin blood smears (w/ Giemsa stain)

FBC, clotting, U&Es, LFTs, blood glucose, urinalysis, ABG

Question 11

Use of thick blood film/smears

Answer 11

Detects presence of parasites (malaria)

Question 12

Use of thin blood film/smears

Answer 12

Identifies species of parasite (malaria)