Travel Related Infections Flashcards
What are the causative organisms of malaria
From most to least common:
plasmodium:
- falciparum
- vivax
- ovale
- malariae
How is malaria spread?
Female mosquitos carry the protozoa, as they suck blood from a human and they inject it into the human’s blood stream. The protozoa travels to the liver and infect liver cells, they then multiply here before infecting the entire blood stream and destroying erythrocytes. (they produce merozoites which proliferate in RBC’s and cause destruction to erythrocytes). Another mosquito comes along to suck blood and picks up protozoa and the cycle continues and passes it onto another person.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Symptoms include:
● CVS – tachycardia, hypotension ● Respiratory – ARDS ● SIRS ● GI – diarrhoea, jaundice ● Renal – acute kidney injury
What investigations should you undertake on suspicion of malaria?
3 blood smears should be taken and analysed to look for merozoites, FBC, U&Es, LFTs, glucose and coagulation tests (less platelets) to identify malaria.
How would you treat malaria?
P. falciparum = quinine or artesunate
P. vivax, P. Ovale, P.malariae = chloroquine or primaquine (hypnozites used to prevent spread from liver to blood)
What is typhoid disease caused by?
Prevalent in Asia, Africa, South America where there is poor sanitation.
Caused by Salmonella typhoid faecal-oral spread through food or water usually. 7-14 day incubation period.
gram negative rods, enterobacteria
What are symptoms of typhoid disease?
Fever Headache Abdominal discomfort Constipation Dry cough
What investigations and treatment would you order on suspicion of typhoid disease?
Investigations:
Would present with raised LFTs, present in blood and faeces, with anaemia also
Treatment:
Could use ciprofloxacin but resistance is common, so can use ceftriaxone instead
