falciparum malaria

malaria /ma·lar·ia/ (mah-lar´e-ah) an infectious febrile disease endemic in many warm regions of the world, caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, which are parasitic in red blood cells; it is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes and marked by attacks of chills, fever, and sweating occurring at intervals that depend on the time required for development of a new generation of parasites in the body.malar´ial

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falciparum malaria  the most serious form, due to Plasmodium falciparum, with severe constitutional symptoms and sometimes causing death.

ovale malaria  a mild form due to Plasmodium ovale, with recurring tertian febrile paroxysms and a tendency to end in spontaneous recovery.

quartan malaria  that in which the febrile paroxysms occur every 72 hours, or every fourth day counting the day of occurrence as the first day of each cycle; due to Plasmodium malariae.

quotidian malaria  vivax malaria in which the febrile paroxysms occur daily.

tertian malaria  vivax malaria in which the febrile paroxysms occur every 42 to 47 hours, or every third day counting the day of occurrence as the first day of the cycle.

vivax malaria  that due to Plasmodium vivax, in which the febrile paroxysms commonly occur every other day (tertian m.), but may occur daily (quotidian m.), if there are two broods of parasites segmenting on alternate days.

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fal·cip·a·rum malaria (fl-spr-m, fôl-)

n.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and characterized by severe malarial paroxysms that recur about every 48 hours and often by acute cerebral, renal, or gastrointestinal manifestations. Also called malignant tertian malaria.

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falciparum malaria

[falsip′ərəm]

Etymology: L, falx, sickle, forma, form; It, mal, bad aria, air

the most severe form of malaria, caused by the protozoon Plasmodium falciparum. The condition is characterized by extremely grave systemic symptoms, mild jaundice, mental confusion, enlarged spleen and liver, increased respiratory rate, edema, GI symptoms, and anemia. The parasite replicates so rapidly in erythrocytes that cerebral vessels may be obstructed. Falciparum malaria episodes do not last as long as other forms of malaria; if treatment is begun promptly, the disease may be mild and the recovery uneventful. Relapses are uncommon, but death may result from dehydration and anemia. The usual treatment is chloroquine, but patients known to have contracted malaria in an area that harbors drug-resistant P. falciparum are often treated with a combination of quinine, pyrimethamine, and mefloquine. Compare quartan malaria, tertian malaria. See also algid malaria, blackwater fever, malaria.