Uncomplicated Malaria:

A.     “Classical” Malaria Attack: Lasts 6-10 hours

a.     Cold stage

b.     Hot stage

c.      Sweating stage

These attacks are observed to occur every second day.

OR

B.     Combinations of the following symptoms:

a.     Fever

b.     Chills

c.      Sweats

d.     Headaches

e.     Nausea and Vomiting

f.      Body Aches

g.     General Malaise

h.     Enlarged spleen

i.       Mild jaundice (P. falciparum)

j.       Enlargement of liver (P. falciparum)

k.     Increased respiratory rate (P. falciparum)

Severe Malaria

This stage occurs when P. falciparum infections are complicated by other system failures or abnormalities.

A.     Cerebral malaria

a.     Abnormal behavior

b.     Compromised consciousness

c.      Seizure

d.     Coma

B.     Severe anemia

C.     Hemoglobinuria

D.    Fluid buildup in the lungs

E.     Acute respiratory distress

F.     Decrease in blood platelets, abnormalities in blood coagulation

G.     Cardiovascular collapse and shock

H.    Acute kidney failure

I.      Excessive acidity in blood and tissue fluid

J.      Low blood glucose

Other Consequences of Malarial Infections:

-       Neurologic defects, usually seen in children, after recovery from celebral malaria.

o   Trouble with motor movement, palsies, speech difficulties, deafness, blindness

-       Severe anemia is seen especially in young children in tropical Africa who are frequently infected and improperly treated

-       Premature delivery or delivery of a low-weight baby when the mother is infected

-       Ruptured spleen.

-       A chronic, severe kidney disease results from severe or repeated infections.