Malaria

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Malaria (mah-LAR-ee-ah) is an infectious disease that is caused by parasites (bugs) and is usually spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. This infection, which affects people worldwide, is the most important and one of the most common infections caused by parasites. Any of the four different types of Plasmodium parasites may infect humans with malaria. Some types of malaria may be severe or may relapse (reappear) months or years after the first episode of infection. Malaria may affect many organs in the body, including the brain, lungs, kidneys, and liver. A more severe form of malaria that affects the brain is called cerebral malaria. Malaria may also be passed through blood transfusions, organ transplants, or sharing infected needles. An infected mother may pass the parasite to her unborn child.
  
  
• With early symptoms of malaria, you may feel like you have the flu, including high fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain. You may also have nausea (upset stomach), vomiting (throwing up), abdominal (stomach) pain, or diarrhea. Signs and symptoms of brain, breathing, liver, or blood problems are seen with the severe forms of malaria. These problems may include abnormal bleeding, sleepiness, trouble breathing, seizures (convulsions), and severe weakness. Diagnosis of malaria may include a detailed health history and blood smear tests. Treatment is aimed at killing the parasites, relieving the symptoms, and treating the complications. Malaria may be prevented by controlling human and mosquito contact. With prompt treatment, such as medicine and rest, you have a greater chance of making a full recovery.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Treatment with antimalarial medicines may cause unpleasant side effects. These may include skin sensitivity to light, changes in the tooth color of young children, mood swings, or psychosis. Some medicines may not be as effective if the parasite is resistant to them. The infection may reoccur. If left untreated, malaria may lead to severe anemia (very low RBC count), kidney failure, coma, or death. In pregnant women, malaria can cause prematurity (early birth), miscarriage, or death of the unborn baby. The risks of serious problems are decreased the earlier malaria is treated and by following your caregiver's advice. Talk to your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your disease, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

You may be given the following medicines:

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Anticonvulsant medicine: This medicine is given to control seizures. Take this medicine exactly as directed.
  
  
• Antiparasitic medicine: This medicine may be given to kill parasites. Parasites are living things that feed or eat off of other living things.
  
  
• Antipyretics: This medicine is given to decrease a fever.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Medicine monitoring:

• Caregivers will watch how you respond to your medicines. Sometimes the kind and amount of medicines you use may need to be changed. The goal is for the medicines to work well, and have the least amount of side effects. You and your caregiver will talk about how long you may need to use each of your medicines.
  
  
• You may need tests to check how much medicine is in your blood, or how well it is working. Caregivers use the results of these tests to decide the medicine and dose that is right for you. You may need to have these tests more than once.

Glucose meter:

A glucose meter (also called a glucometer) is a small machine used to test the amount of sugar in your blood. Your finger is pricked so your caregiver can get a small drop of blood. The blood is put onto a testing strip, and put into the glucose meter. A screen on the glucose meter will show the amount of sugar in your blood. This test may be done several times a day. You may be taught how to do this test yourself.

Heart monitor:

This is also called an ECG or EKG. Sticky pads placed on your skin record your heart's electrical activity.

Neurologic exam:

This is also called neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. A neurologic exam can show caregivers how well your brain works after an injury or illness. Caregivers will check how your pupils (black dots in the center of each eye) react to light. They may check your memory and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested.

Tests:

If you have symptoms of swelling of the brain or its coverings, your caregiver may do some tests. It is important to know what is causing your symptoms. This will help your caregiver decide what treatment is best for you. Tests may also be done to see how your body is handling your disease.

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
  
  
• Blood gases: This is also called an arterial blood gas, or ABG. Blood is taken from an artery (blood vessel) in your wrist, arm, or groin. Your blood is tested for the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in it. The results can tell caregivers how well your lungs are working.
  
  
• Chest x-ray: This is a picture of your lungs and heart. Caregivers use it to see how your lungs and heart are doing. Caregivers may use the x-ray to look for signs of infection like pneumonia, or to look for collapsed lungs. Chest x-rays may show tumors, broken ribs, or fluid around the heart and lungs.

Treatment options:

Your treatment may change if your health problem is not being controlled. This is often decided after you have tests. You may have some of the following treatments alone or together.

• Blood transfusion: You will get whole or parts of blood through an IV during a transfusion. Blood is tested for diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV, to be sure it is safe.
  
  
• Respiratory support:
  
  
  • Oxygen: You may need extra oxygen if your blood oxygen level is lower than it should be. You may get oxygen through a mask placed over your nose and mouth or through small tubes placed in your nostrils. Ask your caregiver before you take off the mask or oxygen tubing.
    
    
  • Ventilator: This is a machine that gives you oxygen and breathes for you when you cannot breathe well on your own. An endotracheal (ET) tube is put into your airway through your mouth or nose. You may need a trach if an ET tube cannot be placed. A trach is an airway tube put into an incision (cut) in the front of your neck. The ET tube or trach is attached to the ventilator.

Copyright © 2011. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Malaria (Inpatient Care)