QUESTION: How many days does it take to become symptomatic after a blood transfusion of malaria infected blood to patient? ANSWER: This depends on the strain and burden of malaria parasites in the blood being transfused. Onset of malaria symptoms can be very rapid if infected red blood cells begin to rupture immediately, say within 24-48 hours, or conversely symptoms can be very … [Read more...]
Malaria Schizonts
QUESTION: What is the difference between schizont of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum? ANSWER: P. falciparum schizonts tend to fill up to about two-thirds of the host red blood cell, and contain 8-24 merozoites (see image below for development of schizont). However, schizonts of P. falciparum are rarely seen in peripheral blood; instead, multiple, smaller rings are the usual diagnostic … [Read more...]
What is “Pf” and “Pv” in relation to malaria?
QUESTION: What is pf and pv? ANSWER: "Pf" stands for Plasmodium falciparum and "Pv" stands for Plasmodium vivax. These are two different species of the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Pf causes the most acute, severe form of the disease, which can have a cerebral manifestation ("cerebral malaria") and causes the most deaths worldwide. Pv is still a serious disease, but usually … [Read more...]
Treatment for Pregnant Woman with P. Vivax Malaria
QUESTION: A pregnant woman has vivax malaria what treatment should be given in case of relapse? ANSWER: Primaquine, the usual drug given to prevent relapse of P. vivax malaria, is not recommended for pregnant women due to inadequate information about its safety. As such, it is normally recommended to treat the relapses with chloroquine, to cure each malarial episode, until after delivery … [Read more...]
high fever after malaria is cured?
QUESTION: My dad was infected with malaria,and his blood platelets were depleted to 35000. He was immediately admitted to hospital. Now after 5 days of being admitted, he is getting high fever around 102 degrees every morning and evening. His blood platelets have increased to 3lac and all other reports are normal. According to the doctor, the malaria is cured, but they are not able to detect … [Read more...]
What is malaria?
QUESTION: What is malaria? ANSWER: Malaria is a disease caused by a parasitic single-celled animal known as Plasmodium. There are different species of Plasmodium, which cause different kinds of malaria. The main types which infect humans are P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The parasite is transmitted by certain species of mosquito; the parasite lives in the human blood … [Read more...]
What pathogenic organisms cause malaria?
QUESTION: What pathogenic organism causes the disease? ANSWER: Malaria is caused by single-celled organisms, called protozoans, of the genus Plasmodium. Different forms of malaria are caused by different species of Plasmodium. The most severe and deadly form is caused by P. falciparum, which is responsible for 90% of the global deaths from malaria, the majority of these in Africa, and … [Read more...]
How quickly should patient take medicine for malaria?
QUESTION: My sister has been suffering from malaria for three months. She consulted with doctor in the first symptom of malaria but doctor gave only fever medicine at that time. Blood test was not done at that time. So my question is: "within how many days or months malaria patient has to immediately take medicine?" ANSWER: One of our collaborating medical doctors has assisting in … [Read more...]
Why are platelets low in malaria infections?
QUESTION: Why are platelets low in malaria infections? Why is there no internal bleeding in malaria? ANSWER: Platelets are low especially with P. falciparum infections, but also potentially with high-burden P. vivax infections. This is probably from sequestration in blood vessels and spleen. Actually, there is life threatening bleeding associated with severe cerebral malaria from this … [Read more...]
Malaria Re-occurrence
QUESTION: I've been infected with malaria vivax, for this i've taken the treatment for three days, after three days i don't have any symptoms but after two days again I'm feeling the fever and abdominal pain which i'm having since the diagnosis is still persisting. Why is it happening? Are there any chances even after treatment for re-occurrence? My urine is yellow color but there is no … [Read more...]