Malaria involves:
Parasitic Infection: Transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium parasites.
Liver Stage: Parasites initially infect liver cells, where they mature and multiply, causing no symptoms during this stage.
Blood Stage: Released parasites infect red blood cells, leading to cycles of rapid multiplication (schizogony) and rupture of infected cells.
Immune Response: Host immune response to parasite antigens can lead to fever, chills, and systemic inflammation.
Complications: Severe malaria can lead to organ dysfunction, cerebral malaria, anemia, and death, especially in young children and pregnant women.
Clinical Evaluation
Symptoms: Assessment of symptoms such as cyclic fever (fever paroxysms), chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
Physical Examination: Examination findings may include jaundice (in severe cases), splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), and signs of anemia.
Diagnostic Tests: Blood smear microscopy to identify Plasmodium parasites, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and PCR-based assays for species identification and drug resistance testing.
Cyclic fever with chills, typically occurring every 48 to 72 hours (depending on the species).
Headache, muscle aches, and general malaise during fever episodes.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Anemia, jaundice, and hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and spleen) in severe cases.
Neurological symptoms in cerebral malaria, such as altered mental status, seizures, or coma.
Timely and appropriate treatment is essential to prevent complications:
Antimalarial Drugs: Administration of antimalarial medications such as chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), or other drugs based on local drug resistance patterns.
Supportive Care: Management of symptoms with antipyretics for fever, antiemetics for nausea and vomiting, and intravenous fluids for hydration.
Preventive Measures: Vector control measures (insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying), chemoprophylaxis for travelers to endemic areas, and vaccination research efforts.