- Published on
Pathology – Malaria
Malaria
Pathogen
• Plasmodia protozoa: Plasmodium (P.) falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae.
Epidemiology: Endemic in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. Approximately 10 million new infections annually. Approximately 1 million fatalities annually, predominantly due to P. falciparum. Transmission • Female Anopheles mosquitoes inject Plasmodium sporozoites during a blood meal.
Pathogenesis
• Sporozoites invade hepatocytes and grow into merozoites. • Merozoites infect and replicate within erythrocytes, resulting in hemolytic anemia. Sequestration of red blood cells significantly infected by P. falciparum results in acute renal failure and cerebral malaria.
Presentation
• A non-specific influenza-like disease characterized initially by headache, malaise, and myalgia. • Subsequently, fevers and chills ensue. Cerebral malaria manifests with confusion, seizures, and coma.
Diagnosis: Parasitized erythrocytes may be observed upon inspection of blood smears. Prognosis: Non-falciparum malaria exhibits a minimal death rate. Severe falciparum malaria can be fatal.
Adverse prognostic indicators encompass elevated parasitaemia, hypoglycaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and renal dysfunction.
Malaria
Pathogen
• Plasmodia protozoa: Plasmodium (P.) falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae.
Epidemiology: Endemic in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. Approximately 10 million new infections annually. Approximately 1 million fatalities annually, predominantly due to P. falciparum. Transmission • Female Anopheles mosquitoes inject Plasmodium sporozoites during a blood meal.
Pathogenesis
• Sporozoites invade hepatocytes and grow into merozoites. • Merozoites infect and replicate within erythrocytes, resulting in hemolytic anemia. Sequestration of red blood cells significantly infected by P. falciparum results in acute renal failure and cerebral malaria.
Presentation
• A non-specific influenza-like disease characterized initially by headache, malaise, and myalgia. • Subsequently, fevers and chills ensue. Cerebral malaria manifests with confusion, seizures, and coma.
Diagnosis: Parasitized erythrocytes may be observed upon inspection of blood smears. Prognosis: Non-falciparum malaria exhibits a minimal death rate. Severe falciparum malaria can be fatal.
Adverse prognostic indicators encompass elevated parasitaemia, hypoglycaemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and renal dysfunction.
0 Comments
