Causes of malaria recurrence

In fact, there are cases of patients with fever returning after having been treated for malaria in medical facilities and discharged home. The cause of recurrent malaria often stems from improper treatment in accordance with the prescribed principles.

1. Malaria overview

Malaria is a blood-borne infectious disease, transmitted by malaria parasites from sick people to healers through the Anopheles mosquito. There is also a second method of transmission that is through blood transfusions and m mother-child routes through the placenta. The disease is circulating by region and can break out into an epidemic.

There are 4 species of human pathogenic malaria parasites:

  • Plasmodium falciparum;
  • Plasmodium vivax;
  • Plasmodium ovale;
  • Plasmodium malariae.

In Vietnam, two common parasites are P. falciparum and P. vivax. In particular, the rate of P. falciparum is higher in the mountainous and coastal areas of the South (from Phan Thiet back in), while P. vivax is the majority in the brackish and coastal areas from Phan Thiet 10 years ago.

Answering the question "Does malaria recur?", doctors said the treatment was not definitive and prescribed that would cause malaria to recur from one batch to another. This causes many patients to misunderstand malaria as an incurable chronic disease.

2. Causes of recurrent malaria

Can children with viral fever take antibiotics?

There are many different causes of recurrent malaria

There are various causes of recurrent malaria, such as:

  • Asymosis parasites in red blood cells left over from the previous one continue to grow to the point of exceeding the threshold and causing malaria to recur;
  • Parasites P. falciparum and P. vivax cause malaria to recur close, occurring on average 7-14 days after the previous course of the disease. This type of recurrent malaria is called powdering;
  • The parasite P. falciparum causes malaria to recur that can reappear after 3-6 months in people who already have 1 immunity;
  • Parasites P. vivax and P. ovale can sleep (hypnozoite) parasites in the liver, facilitating the liver to activate, develop and release into the blood of young parasites (liver merozoites) that cause malaria to recur far after a few weeks or up to 9-10 months;
  • In rare cases, the parasite P. malariae also causes malaria to recur due to a potential asym feature cycle in the activated and developed red blood cells.

3. Subjects with recurrent malaria

Recurrent malaria will occur on a variety of patients, namely:

  • Malaria patients recur almost due to infection with the parasite P. falciparum resistant to therapeutic drugs, the drug does not have the effect of killing all asymchroma (trophozoite) of parasites in the patient's blood;
  • Malaria patients recur far due to P. vivax infection but do not use hypnozoite (hypnozoite) that is parasite in the liver for root treatment;
  • People with a history of malaria parasite infection, recurrent malaria will depend on how long the parasite exists in the body. Pre-malaria 1-2 years ago for type P. falciparum; from 1.5 – 5 years for type P. vivax, or P. ovale; and 3-5 years for type P. malariae;
  • Some cases of recurrent malaria are common in patients with severe working conditions during the period of primary malaria (illness in the first 6 months).

4. Clinical characteristics of recurrent malaria

fever

Recurrent malaria manifests it as a fever with 3 stages: a period of cold tremor, a period of fever and a period of sweating

Typical clinical symptoms of malaria occur cyclically from the onsl on the onsl departure, manifested as a fever with 3 stages:

Period of cold tremor

The cold tremor lasts from 15 minutes to about 1-2 hours, along the spine of the back is transmitted to the whole body, 2 teeth collide with each other and tremble; applying many blankets still cold, purple lips, dark eyes, spikes; fast circuit; swollen spleen, heavy urination.

Hot period

After the end of the cold, the patient feels hot, tossing all the blankets, flushed face and eyes, hot dry skin, headache, dizziness, vomiting; the temperature can rise as high as 40 – 41°C; strong pulse, rapid breathing; slightly painful in the liver, spleen; urine is small and dark. The fever lasts about 2-4 hours or longer depending on the degree of the disease.

Sweating stage

Body temperature decreases, sweating in the forehead, head and face or body if seriously ill; relieves headache and vomiting, the liver and spleen slightly shrink. The patient is less painful, more pleasant, only feels thirsty and drowsy.

For recurrent malaria, the fever lasts an average of 2-4 hours, usually shorter than preliminary malaria. Not all patients present in all 3 stages of malaria as mentioned above. After the fever runs out, the patient can return to normal until the malaria returns in cycles. Recurrent malaria tends to be shorter and milder in older adults, has a history of malaria, and inhabits many years in malaria-circulating areas.

5. Distinguish recurrent malaria from other common diseases

When to get rid of dengue

Sepsis has symptoms similar to recurrent malaria

Some other common bacterial infections also have symptoms similar to recurrent malaria, such as:

Sepsis

Penetrating into the body through the skin, digestive system, urinary system … causing severe intoxication. Manifested by many cold tremors during the day, but the fever does not have 3 pronounced stages and reduces the next temperature such as malaria. Blood tests found increased leukocy and polycythemia; high rate of blood deposition as well as blood cultures with pathogenic bacteria.

Inflammation of the urinary tract

Clinical symptoms are usually constant fever, which can become a bout but without cycles; accompanied by symptoms of urinary disorders, examinations with pain points in the urinary organs. Urine tests showed red blood cells, white blood cells, particle pillars, while X-rays or ultrasounds may show urinary tract stones.

Inflammation of the bile path

Often pain in the gallbladder, gallbladder or liver, accompanied by symptoms of constant fever and many bouts of cold tremors during the day. Severely intoxicated people will have jaundice and eyes. The test found peripheral blood leukocyts and a high rate of blood deposition. Ultrasound can see stones or thickening of the gallbladder wall, gallbladder.

Liver anesthosis

Patients with pain in the liver area, palpation of enlarged liver, signs of liver vibration and Ludlow positive; when ultrasound easily detects ultrasonic dilution drives.

To overcome recurrent malaria, patients and doctors in medical facilities need to understand the causes of recurrent malaria, while ensuring the principle of treatment. Patients are not allowed to abandon treatment on their own, or take the wrong medication, enough doses as prescribed. For physicians, they must comply with the prescribed regimen and advise patients to cooperate in treatment. It should be noted that recurrent malaria is easily misdiagnosed with some other diseases and vice versa, therefore vigilance should be taken throughout the entire medical examination and treatment.

For detailed advice on the disease, please go directly to Vinmec health system or book an online visit HERE.

SEE MORE:

  • How to lower malaria in adults
  • Tests for malaria parasites
  • Identify signs of malignant malaria
SEE MORE:

  • Characteristics and treatment of recurrent malaria
  • Drug Coartem: Uses, inesicions and notes when taking
  • Which way is the Ebola virus transmitted?

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

RELATED POSTS:

Leave a Comment

0 SHARES
Share
Tweet
Pin