Falciparum Malaria
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Female Anopheles gambiae. Photo from CDC
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What is falciparum malaria?
Falciparum malaria is a mosquito-borne illness that is caused by a microscopic parasite which infects red blood cells. Four kinds of malaria parasites can infect humans:
Plasmodium falciparum,
P. malariae, P. ovale, and
P. vivax. The severity of the disease depends on the kind of Plasmodium causing the infection.
How can I be infected with falciparum malaria?
Malaria is spread when a female Anopheles mosquito ingests blood from an infected person. The parasite develops into an infective stage within the mosquito and later is injected into another person when that infected mosquito feeds again. Malaria cannot be transmitted from person-to-person like a cold or the flu.
Why is falciparum malaria considered the most dangerous type malaria?
Falciparum malaria is a life-threatening disease that can produce liver and kidney failure, brain damage and coma. Worldwide, malaria causes up to a million deaths per year. Falciparum malaria is responsible for the majority of these deaths. If diagnosis and proper treatment are delayed, falciparum malaria can kill the patient very quickly. In addition,
P. falciparum is becoming increasingly resistant to anti-malarial drugs in some areas.
Where is falciparum malaria found?
In general, falciparum malaria is found in tropical regions close to the equator. Most cases originate in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Falciparum malaria is also endemic in some Central and South American countries as well as a few locations in the Caribbean, including Haiti. About 1,500 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year, and most of these cases are persons entering the country for the first time or returning from foreign travel. As a result of urban migration, poverty, and poor sanitation, many countries have been experiencing an increase in the number of falciparum malaria cases.
How does falciparum malaria make me sick and what are the symptoms?
In humans, the malaria parasites grow and multiply first in liver cells and then invade red blood cells and destroy them. The symptoms of falciparum malaria can begin as soon as 8 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms include: overall discomfort and fatigue, high fever (104-106 F) and sweating, shaking chills, headache, and nausea. Untreated, these symptoms can progress to life-threatening complications.
How is falciparum malaria diagnosed and treated?
Falciparum malaria must be diagnosed promptly in order to treat the patient in time to avoid life-threatening complications. Malaria parasites are identified by examining a drop of the patient's blood, spread out as a "blood smear" on a microscope slide. When reliable microscopic diagnosis is not available, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) may be a useful diagnostic alternative. Anyone who has a fever during or after a visit to an area where malaria occurs should seek immediate medical attention. To help ensure proper testing is performed, the patient should inform the healthcare provider about any recent travel to a region with malaria. Falciparum malaria may be effectively treated with a variety of prescription drugs, especially if diagnosed before it becomes severe and life-threatening.
Why is it important to take chemoprophylaxis medication as prescribed?
It is the DoD's policy to provide the best protection for our service members' health and well-being. This policy includes the prescription of anti-malarial drugs, known as chemoprophylaxis, to prevent the development of malaria. Chemoprophylaxis is a proven component of malaria prevention, complementing other personal protective measures aimed at avoiding mosquito bites. Normally, you will take anti-malarial drugs prior to, during, and for a period of time after your travel to a malaria-endemic region. It is extremely important that service members take their anti-malarial medication as prescribed by medical authorities; with some drugs, missing a single day may put you at risk of contracting malaria.
What can I do to reduce my risk of becoming infected with malaria?
AVOID MOSQUITO BITES! Using the DoD Insect Repellent System provides the best protection from mosquito bites. It incorporates repellent on the uniform, DEET or picaridin repellent on exposed skin, a properly worn uniform and sleeping inside a permethrin-treated bed net.
Select the image for more information on the DoD Insect Repellent System.
