Malaria plasmodium spp Flashcards
What does a thick smear entail?
Presence of plasmodium parasites
What does a thin smear entail?
Identifies malaria species
What are the ways of diagnosing malaria?
Thick/Thin blood smear
Antigen capture eg HRP-2, PLD
PCR
Why must diagnosis of plasmodium be fast and accurate?
Severity of disease depends on the plasmodium eg p. falciparum which requires treatment within 24h
What are the 3 types of plasmodium?
P. falciparum
P. vivax
P. malariae
What does P. Falciparum cause?
cytoadherence of iRBC
obstruct blood flow
cerebral malaria and acute renal failure
How long after contracting p. falciparum must the patient be treated?
within 24h
How does p. falciparum appear on blood film?
Thin smear: multiple infections in one rbc
Thick smear: crescentic gametocytes
What does P.vivax do?
Forms dormant hypnozoites in the liver
How does p. vivax appear on blood film?
Schuffner’s dots in enlarged infected RBC on thin smear
What is the treatment for uncomplicated malaria?
Artesunate-mefloquine
How does p. malariae appear on blood film?
Band like growing form on thin smear
What is the treatment for complicated malaria?
Artesunate or quinine
Plus tetracycline for 2nd line
What is the treatment for p.vivax?
Chloroquine-primaquine
Who is primaquine contraindicated in?
Pregnant women and G6PD deficient
