Clinical Aspects of Uncomplicated and Severe Malaria

Abstract

The first symptoms of malaria, common to all the different malaria species, are nonspecific and mimic a flu-like syndrome. Although fever represents the cardinal feature, clinical findings in malaria are extremely diverse and may range in severity from mild headache to serious complications leading to death, particularly in falciparum malaria. As the progression to these complications can be rapid, any malaria patient must be assessed and treated rapidly, and frequent observations are needed to look for early signs of systemic complications.In fact, severe malaria is a life threatening but treatable disease. The protean and nonspecific clinical findings occurring in malaria (fever, malaise, headache, myalgias, jaundice and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea) may lead physicians who see malaria infrequently to a wrong diagnosis, such as influenza (particularly during the seasonal epidemic flu), dengue, gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, viral hepatitis, encephalitis. Physicians should be aware that malaria is not a clinical diagnosis but must be diagnosed, or excluded, by performing microscopic examination of blood films. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are then crucial to prevent morbidity and fatal outcomes. Although Plasmodium falciparum malaria is the major cause of severe malaria and death, increasing evidence has recently emerged that Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi can also be severe and even fatal.

Anti-Malarial and some Biochemical Indices of the Ethanol Extract of Zapoteca portoricensis Root on Malaria-Infected Mice

“…However, symptoms may occur later in those who have taken antimalarial medications as prevention. According to Nadjm and Behrens (2012), initial manifestations of the disease common to all malaria species are similar to flu-like symptoms (Bartoloni and Zammarchi, 2012) and can resemble other conditions such as septicemia, gastroenteritis and viral diseases. The Asian J.…”

“…Symptoms of falciparium malaria arise 9-30 days after infection (Bartoloni and Zammarchi, 2012). Splenomegaly, severe headache, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), hypoglycemia and haemoglobinuria with renal failure may occur.…”

“…Splenomegaly, severe headache, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), hypoglycemia and haemoglobinuria with renal failure may occur. Renal failure is a feature of black water fever, where haemoglobin from lysed red blood cells leaks into the urine (Bartoloni and Zammarchi, 2012).…”

Caracterização e padronização de marcadores genéticos para o estudo de polimorfismos em Plasmodium vivax.

“…É caracterizada por episódios febris, precedidos por calafrios e seguidos por intensa sudorese e cefaléia. Os parasitos da malária pertencem ao filo Apicomplexa, família Plasmodiidae gênero Plasmodium, são parasitos intracelulares obrigatórios e infectam vários hospedeiros vertebrados, incluindo várias espécies de primatas não humanos (Cornejo, Escalante, 2006) atualmente são conhecidas cerca de 150 espécies causadoras de malária ( de Carli, 2010 (Bartoloni, Zammarchi, 2012 pelo desenvolvimento e invasão de esporozoítos haplóides em sua glândula salivar, da qual eles podem ser inoculados no hospedeiro vertebrado (Coatney et al, 1971).…”

“…Apesar de ser classicamente descrita como uma doença benigna, com baixos níveis de mortalidade e morbidade, de tratamento relativamente simples, P. vivax possui uma grande diversidade fenotípica, especialmente em seus padrões de recaídas e apresenta um número crescente de infecções graves e potencialmente fatais (Antinori et al, 2012, Bartoloni, Zammarchi, 2012, além de apresentar resistência à cloroquina, o que sugere a aquisição de novas características fenotípicas por parasitos de diferentes regiões geográficas (Price et al, 2009). Os parasitos da malária no estádio sanguíneo, nas células do hospedeiro, são haplóides (Imwong et al, 2012).…”