QUESTION When malaria is dormant in the body can it be detected in a blood test? ANSWER Not directly, no. A normal malaria blood test consists of a thick or thin smear, which is often stained and then looked at under a microscope; with these tests, you would not be able to see any sign of the malaria which is lying dormant in the liver. However, there is another type of blood test, known … [Read more...]
Recurrent Malaria
QUESTION can malaria represent itself after 50 years? ANSWER There are two types of malaria which can lay dormant for long periods of time, though I don't personally know of more than a handful of cases where the relapse was a matter of decades after the initial infection. These two types are P. vivax and P. ovale, so if you know you were infected with one of these types a number of years … [Read more...]
Persistent Antibodies to Malaria?
QUESTION I had malaria as child, more than 30 years ago. It was successfully treated with no relapse. I have since travelled to malaria- endemic countries, but the last time was over 3 years ago. No symptoms. I recently donated blood and routine screening has detected malaria antibodies. How long do the antibodies persist? ANSWER Based on your experience, I would say at least three years! … [Read more...]