Serious infectious disease. It is common in hot, developing countries. Populations that are particularly vulnerable to this infection include: children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and people with HIV/AIDS.
It is caused by a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito.
Symptoms are varied and usually start like flu (fever, chills, headache and sweating), which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal and muscle pain, cough, blood in the stools, yellowing of the skin, bleeding, signs of shock (poor blood circulation and oxygen supply to the tissues) and coma. In children under 2 years of age, blood problems are more common, including severe anaemia.
Diagnosis is based on clinical interview, full physical examination and confirmation of the presence of the parasite in the blood.
Treatment is based on drugs called antimalarials: Chloroquine, Primaquine, Atovaquone, Quinine.
- Joel G Breman. Clinical manifestations of malaria in nonpregnant adults and children. UpToDate. May 19, 2016.
- Johanna Daily. Treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in nonpregnant adults and children. UpToDate. Jun 23, 2016.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malaria Information and Prophylaxis, by Country [A]. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.html (Accessed on March 21, 2016).
- White NJ, Breman JG. Paludismo y babesiosis: enfermedades producidas por parásitos eritrocitarios. Harrison. Manual de Medicina. 16º edición. 606-618.
- M. García López Hortelano. Actualización en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la malaria ASOCIACIÓN ESPANOLA DE PEDIATRÍA. 2012
