Last Updated on February 8, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta
One of the worst scourges to ever strike humanity is malaria, which causes 500 million clinical cases and more than a million clinical deaths annually, mostly among children. It is a major health burden and a hindrance to economic progress in many tropical countries, especially in Africa. There are various forms of malaria, including mild and malignant (severe) malaria. Due to the potential severity of the condition, this compilation focuses on the onset of malignant malaria, the underlying cause, and the most effective management techniques for the condition.
When does malaria become ‘malignant malaria’?
Malignant malaria is the name given to falciparum malaria because this form of the disease can occasionally be very serious and even fatal. This is due to plasmodium falciparum, being the most virulent of the plasmodium species that parasitize humans. Although the very infection can last up to a year, the incubation period usually lasts between 7 and 14 days. The fever cycle starts randomly and lasts all day. The fever comes back every third day for the next week or so. Such malaria forms do not cause relapses.
Additionally, P. knowlesi can cause very serious and occasionally fatal malaria. The typical incubation period lasts between 9 and 12 days and is followed by a fever that returns every day. This particular strain of malaria doesn’t lead to relapse.
How is malignant malaria treated?
According to the CDC, malaria treatment shouldn’t begin until the diagnosis has been verified through laboratory testing. All patients with confirmed cases of severe malaria or those who have a high probability of contracting the disease should start parenteral antimalarial therapy right away. In order to prevent further complications brought on by falciparum malaria, such patients should be hospitalised immediately.
Treatment that is appropriate, timely, and effective has the biggest influence on the survival of the patient diagnosed with malignant malaria. According to the World Health Organisation, the first-line treatment for all malignant malaria patients worldwide is intravenous or intramuscular artesunate, which should be administered for at least 24 hours or until the oral medication is tolerated. In the absence of artesunate, artemether is advised rather than quinine as a medication.
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