What are the three stages of a malaria attack?

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QUESTION:

What are the three stages of a typical malaria attack?

ANSWER:

I’m not entirely clear as to what you’re asking with this question; do you mean the stages of infection within the human host, or the successive changes in the symptoms during the fever cycles that characterise a malarial episode?

If you mean the latter, then the three typical stages of symptoms during a malaria attack are characterised by an initial feeling of coldness, which is indicative of the early stages of the fever. This develops into the patient feeling much, much warmer, and even uncomfortably hot—at this point, the patient’s fever can spike dramatically, up to over 40 degrees C. The body combats this fever by sweating profusely—these sweats constitute the third stage of the attack, and have the effect of gradually bringing the patient’s temperature down.

These three stages are repeated at intervals of 24, 48 or 72 hours, depending on the type of malaria. This is due to the cyclical and coordinated bursting of red blood cells, releasing the next life stage of the malaria parasite, and which causes the bulk of the fever in patients.

If you intended to ask about the stages of infection during the life cycle of the malaria parasite, the image below (from CDC), is a very clear and useful guide to the incredibly complex life cycle of Plasmodium species.

generalised malaria life cycle

Generalised life cycle of the malaria parasite (courtesy of CDC: www.cdc.gov)




 

 

From the Editor

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Welcome to the re-launch of Malaria.com, a member driven website encompassing the global malaria community.

Malaria.com is designed to be dynamic and user-driven.  It is a place where, to name a few examples, researchers will have the opportunity to connect and collaborate on projects, field practitioners can blog about their adventures on the front lines of malaria control, and where the public has an opportunity to engage directly with personnel in the forefront of malaria treatment and research. Questions asked online will be answered by our team of experts. [Read more…]

Malaria Co-infection with Other Diseases of Global Public Health Importance

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Effects of co-infection on human health, the need for further research and steps towards integrated control

Introduction

Standley Adriko malaria Uganda 2010

Claire Standley and Moses Adriko surveying for malaria infections in a community in Uganda. Photo: Courtesy Dr Claire Standley

In large parts of the world, the Plasmodium protozoans that cause malaria co-exist alongside a number of other pathogens and parasites, many of which are also infectious to humans. One of the foremost challenges in tackling the huge burden of malaria around the world, and particularly in developing countries, is understanding the dynamics between malaria and these other infections. For example, researchers are seeking to understand the effects of co-infections on a patient’s health and well-being, while at the same time, deciphering how best to provide treatment and disease control regimes in regions with high co-infection prevalence. Moreover, of course, the effects and intricacies of co-infection may vary between regions, or between the types of infectious found alongside malaria. This blog gives a quick introduction to some of the common diseases often found alongside malaria, and especially in the developing world, where significant research resources are directed but also where treatment and control needs are greatest.

Malaria and HIV

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