Malaria is a serious infectious disease. It is common in hot, developing countries. Children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and HIV/AIDS patients are particularly susceptible to malaria.
It is caused by a parasite of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito.
Symptoms are very varied, starting as a flu-like illness (fever, chills, headache, sweating) that may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle aches, cough, bloody stools, yellowing of the skin, bleeding, signs of shock (poor blood perfusion and poor oxygen supply to tissues) and coma.
Diagnosis requires a medical history, a complete physical examination and a blood test for the presence of the parasite.
Treatment is based on antimalarial drugs: chloroquine, primaquine, atavacuone, quinine.
- Joel G Breman. Clinical manifestations of malaria in nonpregnant adults and children. UpToDate. May 19, 2016.
- Heidi Hopkins. Diagnosis of malaria. UpToDate. Apr 25, 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).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment Guidelines: Treatment of Malaria (Guidelines for Clinicians), 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/resources/pdf/clinicalguidance.pdf (Accessed on September 10, 2015).
- White NJ, Breman JG. Paludismo y babesiosis: enfermedades producidas por parásitos eritrocitarios. Harrison. Manual de Medicina. 16º edición. 606-618.
