Symptoms of Uncomplicated Malaria Fever

Chills

Sweats

Headaches

Nausea

Vomiting

Body aches

General malaise

The symptoms of Malaria consist of three stages -

Cold stage - symptoms of cold, shivering

Hot stage - fever, headache, vomiting

Sweating stage - sweating

The symptoms vary depending on type of malarial strain

Common conditions associated with Malaria are -

Fever

Weakness

Enlarged spleen

Enlarged liver

Mild jaundice

Increased sweating

Diagnosis of Uncomplicated Malaria can be done by some blood tests -

Microscope examination of blood smears for malarial Parasites

Mild anemia

Decrease in blood platelets

Urine test may show

- increase in bilirubin concentration

- Increase in aminotransferase

- Detection of albumin

Mild Malaria

Symptoms of Mild Malaria is -

Fever

Chills

Sweats

Headaches

Nausea and vomiting

Body pain

The Symptoms of Malaria attack occurs in three stages and lasts for 6 to 10 hours

Cold stage - Cold, shivering

Hot stage - Fever, headache, vomiting

Sweating stage - sweat, fever, tiredness The frequency of symptoms occurs every - Second day with P. falcipuram, P. ovale and P. vivax

- Third day with P. malariae. Severe Malaria : Severe malaria is a serious infection and requires immediate treatment and hospitalization.

Severe Malaria is due to complications following P. falciparum infections involving serious organ failures. Clinical manifestations of severe malaria are -

Cerebral malaria

Loss of consciousness

Brain seizures

Coma

Abnormal behavior

Neurological abnormalities

Severe anemia

Hemoglobinuria - Loss of hemoglobin in urine.

Pulmonary edema

Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Clinical manifestations of severe malaria are -

Decrease in blood platelets or Thrombocytopenia

Cardiovascular collapse

Shock

Kidney failure

Low blood glucose

More severe manifestations in Immuno-suppressed patients.

Malaria Relapses

Malarial relapse of P. vivax and P. ovale infections occurs in patients who have recovered from illness and may suffer from several relapses which may occur after months or even years after earlier infections.

Malarial drugs prevent symptoms of malaria but do not prevent relapses of infection caused by strains of the parasite that have a persistent liver phase.

Relapses occur due to reactivation of dormant parasites which are present in the liver.

Complete treatment to avoid relapse attack during the vary first infection can help in avoiding relapses.


Other Manifestations of Malaria ?

Neurological Manifestations

 Cerebral malaria

Speech difficulties

Ataxia (difficulty in movements)

Deafness

Blindness

Increased sweating

Recurrent infections of P. falciparum affected children can lead to anemia. During pregnancy malaria can cause -

Premature delivery

Sweats

Low birth baby

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

Nephrotic syndromes or loss of protein in urine

Malarial Splenomegaly - Spleen enlargement

Susceptibility to other infections