Symptoms of malaria
What are the symptoms of malaria?
The symptoms of the disease can be very different and are ultimately dependent on the type of pathogen.
The common symptom of all malaria diseases is high fever, which is often not immediately perceived as an indication of malaria.
The following symptoms can occur during an infection:
Fever,
general malaise,
nausea,
body aches, etc.
are in the foreground and often do not suggest malaria.
In the more benign forms of malaria it comes later in the course to a synchronization of parasitic maturation in the blood corpuscles and thus to the characteristic fever bouts all 48 (Malaria tertiana) or every 72 hours (Malaria quartana).
Only in the dangerous form, the malaria tropica, it never comes to a really typical disease. In the case of malaria tropica, the strong decay of the red blood corpuscles also leads to organ symptoms caused by oxygen deficiency, such as
cerebral malaria (brain lesions with colorful symptoms), cardiac malaria, gastrointestinal malaria, etc. This is always a warning sign, as it means that the organism can no longer compensate for the red blood cell failure and impaired organ function without treatment, ultimately even with fatal outcome.
At the same time, the formation of antibodies begins, which leads to partial and long-lasting protection against the disease on repeated contact with a sufficient number of strains, but not against another infection.
What is the course of the disease in malaria?
Depending on which pathogen triggers the disease, different disease courses can be observed in a primary infection. Malaria tropica is most severe, caused by P. falciparum, almost all malaria deaths are caused by this pathogen.
In people who have already acquired immunity through repeated infections, the disease can also proceed without symptoms. The incubation period - that is, the time from the transfer of plasmodium to the onset of symptoms - is at least seven and at most 50 days, in some cases even more.
The duration depends on how long the pathogen remains in its resting form in the liver cells. In malaria tertiana pathogens there is also the possibility that "sleeping" forms, called hypnozoites, can form, which can rest in liver cells for months to years until they - and here the mechanism is unclear - "awake" again and become a true malaria recurrence to lead.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS
At the beginning there are usually general signs of illness:a headachefatigueMuscle and joint painNausea, vomiting, diarrhealight feverAfter a few propagation cycles, the typical course is:Fever episodes with temperatures up to 40 ° CchillsAnemia (anemia)splenomegalyIf the malaria tropica is severe, the following complications may occur:
Seizures, confusion and coma due to impairment of the brain (cerebral malaria). The reason for this is believed to be vascular blockage due to clotted red blood cells and sugar depletion in the brain.kidney failurePulmonary edema or lung failureCoagulation disordersHypoglycemia (low sugar)
Pneumonia or urinary tract infections due to additional bacterial infection.
What complications can still occur?
Due to the often pronounced spleen enlargement, it can lead to a splenic rupture. In severe cases of malaria tropica, the lack of oxygen in the organs may in rare cases cause residual damage.
How does the doctor make a diagnosis?
If a febrile illness occurs up to two years after a tropical journey, one should always think of malaria as the cause and prompt a malaria diagnosis. The diagnosis should be confirmed using laboratory diagnostic methods and carried out by an experienced tropical medicine doctor.
Blood smear
The most important and most cost-effective method for malaria suspected is the microscopic examination of blood smears. To exclude a malaria blood must be taken here several times, which is then regarded as a blood smear or "thick drop" immediately under the microscope.
In the case of malaria, the plasmodia are recognized in the red blood cells. Since often only a small percentage of the red blood cells are affected, the examination must be carried out very accurately and repeatedly.
Even a negative result of the microscopic examination can not exclude malaria because of the low sensitivity of the method.special tests.
In special malaria rapid tests pathogens can be detected immunologically and molecular biologically. Antibodies to P. falciparum can be detected by means of a streak test in the blood, but this test is not completely reliable.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) By means of a special procedure (PCR) components of the genetic material of the plasmodia can be detected. This method is by far the most sensitive method. However, it is less suitable for the acute case, since the process is very material and time consuming.
Blood test
In addition, blood tests, blood sedimentation, CRP, blood coagulation, blood sugar and liver and kidney values are determined during the blood test.
In cerebral malaria, in addition to excluding another cause of the symptoms, CSF is performed.
TREATMENT
How to treat malaria?
In the treatment of malaria, the choice of drug depends on the type of pathogen. An early start of treatment is the most important factor.If there is a complicated course of malaria with circulatory shock, coma, kidney failure or pulmonary edema, intensive care monitoring is necessary.
Forecast
Malaria is a condition that can be treated well and promptly with timely treatment with the appropriate medication.Complications and deaths are usually due to non-treatment or late treatment.
Preventions
When traveling, should always be paid to a good malaria prophylaxis.
Exposure prophylaxis, the prevention of being stung by an infectious mosquito, is a crucial factor.
Causees
When you see any such mosquito which is attached to the surface of the abdomen. So such mosquitoes should be eliminated immediately. Because Anopheles mosquito is the only mosquito that has a stomach attached to the surface. And this mosquito causes malaria.
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