TYPES OF MALARIA: CHRONIC RELAPSING MALARIA.

-

 Case scenario:

                A middle-aged woman has proved P.vivax around twice in the last 6 months and was treated adequately but continues to have periodic febrile episodes. She produces several recent lab reports of CBC, chemistry, and lipid profiles, all of which are normal, as is her examination. The malarial smear shows that trophozoites of P.vivax and G6PD are normal.

  1. P.vivax parasites may hide in the liver cells and remain silent for months or years. Using antimalarials against acute vivax malaria targets only schizonts in the peripheral blood and not liver parasites.
  2. Hypnozoites may be sent into the blood intermittently to produce intermittent fever and anemia.
  3. People who have been positive for P.vivax malaria in the past should be treated to prevent relapse or chronic malaria. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Common Cold

-
  Case Scenario:                             A 2-year-old girl presents with a 3-day history of 38.7-degree centigrade fever, nasal congestion with cloudy rhinorrhea, and conjunctivitis. The pharynx is erythematous and the rest of the exam is normal. She has remained healthy and the rest of the vaccination is completed. The mother is worried and wants to know which antibiotic you will prescribe, as her brother is allergic to penicillin.                     Definition:                              It is a viral infection that is acute, self-limiting, and usually targets the upper respiratory tract(nose and throat). It is usually harmless and many types of viruses can cause a common cold. Epidemiology:                           ...
Read more

Helminthiasis

-
Introduction:                   Helminths are parasites/worms which infest the human body and can cause helminthiasis. These infections are very common in the tropics and subtropics. Children who have a habit of walking barefoot in mud or those that eat paint or sand or those who have a history of PICA are more prone to such infections. Etiology:         Most common worm infestations are caused by flatworms(like tapeworms and flukes) and roundworms(like ascariasis, pinworm, and hookworm infection). Epidemiology:                    Studies have suggested that within the USA, approximately 1.3 to 2.8 million people have serological evidence with Toxocara species, 4 million with soil-transmitted helminths, 41,400 to 169,000 with cysticercosis, and approximately 8000 with schistosomiasis. A recent study done in Chicago shows that approximately 12% of subjects providing samples ...
Read more

GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

-
  Case scenario:                          A 25-year-old woman presented to her primary care physician complaining of swollen hands since last week. She had also noticed that over the last 2 days she was swelling around her eyes and was short of breath. Epidemiology:                     Glomerulonephritis is rare, with an estimated worldwide incidence of 0.5-2.5 per 100,000 patients per year depending on the specific type. In contrast, the risk of progression to end-stage renal disease(ESRD) is high, explaining why glomerulonephritis accounts for 14-20% of cases of end-stage renal disease. Causes: Toxins and medicine Viral infections like hepatitis C and B virus. IgA nephropathy lupus-related kidney inflammation Symptoms: Fatigue High blood pressure Swelling of the hands, feet, belly, and face Blood and protein in the urine Decreased urine output. Complications: Acute k...
Read more