Malaria is a febrile illness caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. It is characterized by periodic fever, spleen enlargement, and anemia, and is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae, or Plasmodium vivax. Malaria is endemic in many tropical countries including India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Clinical features include paroxysms consisting of cold, hot, and sweating stages, with fevers recurring every two days for P. vivax and P. ovale or every four days for P. malariae. Complications can include severe anemia, organ damage, cerebral malaria,

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2. Anophelene female mosquito
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3. Definition
 It is a febrile illness caused by
protozoa of the genus Plasmodium
 Charecterised by periodic
fever,splenomegaly,hemolytic
anaemia , recurrent chronic course.
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4. Epidemiology
 Causative agent:
Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium ovale
Plasmodium malariae
Plasmodium vivax
 Epidemiology
Endemic in all tropical countries-India, Srilanka,
Bangladesh.
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8.  Incubation time : The time interval between
mosquito bite and development of malaria is 13-14
days except for P. malariae (35 days) If the
infection is left untreated
 Fever recurs every third day in P.vivax and
ovale infection establishing a 2-day cycle
(tertian)
 Spike occurs every three days (Quartan) in
P.malariae infection i.e. fever recurs every
fourth day
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9. Clinical features:
 Plasmodium Vivax & Plasmodium Ovale:
Fever
Headache
Vague discomfort
Aches and pains nausea and vomiting
 Paroxysms- in 3 stages- Charecteristic
of malaria
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10.  Cold stage :
Starts with chills and rigors
Temperature - 40 or more
Rapid pulse
Skin –pale and cold
 Hot stage
In 30-60 mins,
later with flushing of skin,
Bounding pulse
Severe headache and restlessness
Herpes simplex is common.
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11.  Sweating:
Profuse sweat
 It lasts for 2-4 hours.
 Temp falls ,comes to normal.
 Paroxysms repeat at an interval of
48hrs.
Feels well in between the attacks
Spleen and liver enlarge ,may become
tender
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12. P.Malariae infection
 Ass with mild symptoms and bouts of
fever every third day.
 Glomerulonephritis and nephrotic
syndrome in children
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13. P.Falciparum infection
 More dangerous.
 Insidious onset with malaise,headache and
vomiting.
 Cold ,hot and sweat stage.
 No particular pattern.
 Jaundice is common.
 Enlarged liver and spleen,tender.
 Rapid development of anaemia
 Develop serious complications
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14. Complications
 Severe anaemia
 Organ damage due to anoxia
Brain-cerebral malaria
Kidneys- uraemia (acute tubular nechrosis)
Lungs-cough, pulmonary oedema
GI- diarrhoea, congestion
Liver-jaundice, encephalopathy
 Intravascular haemolysis
Blackwater fever
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15.  Hypoglysemia
 Shock secondary to pneumonia
 Hypotensive shock
 Metabolic acidosis
 Algid malaria
 Tropical Splenomegaly
 Quarten malarial nephropathy
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16. In pregnancy
 Maternal death
 Abortion
 Stillbirth
 Low birth weight
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17.  Malaria in children
The majority of childhood malarial infections
present with fever and malaise.
 In addition to the clinical features mentioned
for adults malaria in children may lead to -
Convulsions
Coma
Hypoglycaemia
Metabolic acidosis
Severe anaemia
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18. Diagnosis
 Demonstration of parasite:
 Thick film or thin film
 Immunochromatographic ‘dip-stick ‘
method.
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19. Lab findings
 Leukocytes decreased
 ESR,degree of plasma viscocity, level of c-
reactive protien is high.
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