Malaria

Question 1

What is malaria?

Answer 1

A mosquito-borne illness caused by Plasmodium protozoa.

Question 2

Is malaria a notifiable disease in the UK?

Answer 2

Yes.

Question 3

What are the risk factors for malaria?

Answer 3

Travel or residence in endemic regions, immunocompromised state, inadequate use of prophylaxis.

Question 4

What are common endemic regions for malaria?

Answer 4

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Southeast Asia
• South America

Question 5

What is the typical incubation period for malaria symptoms?

Answer 5

1-4 weeks, but can lie dormant for years.

Question 6

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Answer 6

• Fever spikes with chills and/or sweats
• Headache
• Myalgia, arthralgia
• Nausea, vomiting

Question 7

What are common examination findings in malaria?

Answer 7

• Pallor (anaemia)
• Hepatosplenomegaly
• Jaundice
• Fever

Question 8

What investigations are used in diagnosing malaria?

Answer 8

• Thick and thin blood smears
• FBC (Full Blood Count)
• Excluding malaria with three negative samples over three consecutive days

Question 9

What is the treatment for non-falciparum/uncomplicated malaria?

Answer 9

• Oral artemisinin combination therapy (artemether with lumefantrine)
• Chloroquine
• Quinine

Question 10

What is the treatment for falciparum/complicated malaria?

Answer 10

• Hospital admission
• IV artesunate
• Quinine dihydrochloride

Question 11

What general advice is given for prophylaxis when traveling to endemic areas?

Answer 11

No method is 100% effective alone; use mosquito spray, mosquito nets, and take antimalarial medication as recommended.

Question 12

What are some antimalarial medications?

Answer 12

• Proguanil with atovaquone (Malarone)
• Doxycycline

Question 13

What is a serious complication of malaria?

Answer 13

Cerebral malaria.

Question 14

What characterizes cerebral malaria?

Answer 14

Severe neurological complication where red cells adhere to brain microvasculature, causing microcirculatory obstruction, hypoxia, and cerebral oedema.

Question 15

How is cerebral malaria managed?

Answer 15

With IV antimalarials and supportive care.