- A classic malaria attack typically involves shivering and a sensation of cold followed by fever, headache and vomiting. After this, the patient will usually break into a sweat and then return to a normal temperature. The typical uncomplicated malaria attack will last from six to ten hours and will repeat the process every two or three days depending on the infecting parasite.
- Uncomplicated malaria becomes severe malaria when classic attacks are accompanied by organ failure or blood stream abnormalities. Severe malaria is marked by the symptoms of uncomplicated malaria in addition to abnormal behavior, seizures, coma, acute respiratory distress syndrome, blood coagulation abnormalities, shock or cardiovascular collapse.
- Malaria may also manifest in kidney failure, excessive acidity of the blood or low blood glucose levels. Children, pregnant women and people with low or compromised immunity systems are most susceptible to severe malaria. This condition should be treated as a medical emergency.
- In some cases the parasite that causes malaria can lay dormant in the liver for an extended period of time. Patients who have contracted malaria may experience a relapse of symptoms months or years after the initial attack.
- Malaria can manifest in numerous ways depending on the type of parasite involved and the age and sex of the patient. Cerebral malaria can cause palsy, speech impairment, blindness and hearing loss, particularly in children. Young children malaria patients are also exceptionally prone to anemia. Malaria in pregnant women can result in premature birth and low birth weight in infants.
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