Malaria Disease: Signs Symptoms Diagnosis & Treatments

Malaria  is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. While most malaria cases usually cause symptoms soon after infection, some species of the parasite can remain hidden in the body for long periods, like months or even years, without causing any signs & symptoms—only to reactivate later (Relapses). In this topic I will  explore how and why malaria parasites hide, the scientific mechanism behind relapse, and treatment strategies to eliminate them completely.

when  mosquito bites, Plasmodium sporozoites enter the bloodstream and quickly migrate to the liver. Invade liver cells, most parasites begin multiplying within days, eventually spilling into the blood and causing malaria symptoms.

But some plasmodium parasite species take a different route—they become hypnozoites, a dormant (inactive) form that hides silently in the liver and don’t multiply also stay inactive for long periods, without triggering any symptoms. At some point unknown factors my contribute and trigger activation of the dormant, these triggers maybe are Immune system changes, fever, trauma or stress and others Illnesses.

Forms

Anopheles mosquito infection passes the below cycle starting from infected mosquito bite into the blood vessels to gametocyte.

1. Sporozoites 

2. Blood stage

3. Liver stage

4. Gametocyte

The Incubation period of Malaria is usually between 7-30 days after bite but longer incubation period may confuse the Doctors.

1. P.vivax- can relapse up to 2 years after bite

2. P.ovale- can relapse up to 4 years after bite 

3. P.malaria- Increased Incubation period (Causes Nephrotic syndrome)

4. P.falciparum- high susceptibility for pregnant women

Diagnosis

• Rapid diagnostic test [RDT]

• blood smear

• PCR

• Drug resistant testing

Signs & Symptoms 

Fever, head ache, body aches, nausea, vomiting , general malaise, weakness, perspiration, and Juandice, these signs and symptoms followed by attacks of cold stage around 1 hour duration , cold stage around or b/w 1-6 hours and sweating stage b/w 2-4 hours 

Severe Malaria causes complications like

• Hepatosplenomegaly 

• Cerebral anemia 

• Hemoglobinuria 

• Severe anemia 

• ARDS-Acute respiratory distress syndrome 

• Hypotension 

• Acute renal failure 

• DIC-Disseminated intravascular coagulation 

Prevention Prophylaxis & Treatment 
Prevention & Prophylaxis 

Malaria can prevented through mosquito control, using mosquito nets, Mosquito repellents, covering the body with clothes and windows protection tools to prevent mosquitoes to entering the houses.

• Atovaquone: start 1 before travel, taken daily while in the endemic area, Continue at least 7 day after leaving the area(not for newborns).
• Doxycycline: taken daily after exposure, Continue 4 weeks after after travel from the area (not for under 8years).
• Chloroquine:start 1-2 weeks before traveling, taken weekly, Continue 4 weeks after traveling from the endemic area.

Treatment: always consult with a physician 

• Mefloquine, chloroquine, Quanine
• Primaquine for relapse prevention active against liver form 
• Artesunate lumefantrine 
• Clindamycin or doxycycline  ( used in combination with quinine).

SUMMERY

NB: Malaria is one of the major cause of child deaths worldwide ,so we should take good preventive measures, manage and Treatment carefully and accurately to avoid drug resistances.