Malaria

Aka: Malaria, Plasmodium Falciparum, Plasmodium Malariae, Plasmodium Vivax, Plasmodium Ovale, Plasmodium Falciparum Infection, Plasmodium Malariae Infection, Plasmodium Vivax Infection, Plasmodium Ovale Infection, Ovale Malaria, Falciparum Malaria, Vivax Malaria, Quartan Malaria, Tertian Fever, Quartan Fever

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II. Epidemiology

  1. Incidence
    1. Malaria is the most common life threatening disease for travelers
    2. Mosquito population is expected to as much as double with global warming (0.4 C) by 2020
    3. Europe and North America infections are typically due to travel
      1. European, North American traveler cases: 30,000/year
      2. U.S. Cases reported to CDC per year: 1500 to 2000 (out of 18 million U.S. travelers to Malaria endemic areas)
      3. Malaria was endemic to North America, but was eradicated in the mid-twentieth century
    4. Worldwide Infections: 300 million per year
      1. Children under age 5 years are disproportionally affected
      2. Worldwide Mortality: 500,000 deaths per year (some estimates have been as high as 1 to 3 Million per year)
        1. Malaria (esp. P. falciparum) is among the top three infectious causes of death in the world
        2. Other high mortality infectious causes include HIV Infection and Tuberculosis)
  2. Timing
    1. Majority of Malaria outbreaks occur between May and December
    2. Highest risk is during and after the rainy season
      1. River beds and stagnant pools of water are most common breading grounds
  3. Regions
    1. Endemic to tropical and subtropical world around the equator (106 countries as of 2010)
    2. Highest Risk
      1. Sub-Saharan Africa
      2. Papua New Guinea
      3. Solomon Islands
      4. Vanuatu
    3. Intermediate Risk
      1. Haiti
      2. Indian subcontinent
      3. Southeast Asia
    4. Low Risk
      1. Latin America

III. Pathophysiology

  1. See Vector-Borne Infection
  2. Transmitted by bite of female anopheline (or anopheles) Mosquito
    1. Usually bites between dusk and dawn
    2. Injects Malaria protozoa from Salivary Glands
    3. Other modes of human transmission (e.g. Blood Transfusion, congenital transmission) are rare
  3. Species of Malaria
    1. Plasmodium Falciparum (most common and most life threatening)
      1. Fulminant Malaria associated with high Parasitemia and intravascular congestion
      2. Incubation Period: Typically 12-14 days (ranges from 7 to 30 days)
      3. Responsible for most Malaria deaths
    2. Plasmodium Vivax
      1. Incubation Period: Months to years
    3. Plasmodium Malariae (Quartan Malaria)
      1. Fever recurs every 3 days (Quartan Fever), instead of the 2 day intervals of other Plasmodium
    4. Plasmodium Ovale
      1. Incubation Period: Months to years
    5. Plasmodium knowlesi
      1. Emerging pathogen in those exposed to macque monkeys
      2. Similar in appearance to p. Malariae
  4. Life cycle of Malaria
    1. Injected from Mosquito as sporozoite
    2. Sporozoites invade hepatocytes in human liver
      1. Develop into merozoites after weeks to months of development within hepatocytes
      2. Merozoites released into blood stream
      3. Sporozoites may lie dormant in liver (hypnozoites)
        1. Occurs with Plasmodium Vivax and Plasmodium Ovale
        2. Symptoms recur when reactivates in months to years
    3. Merozoites invade erythrocytes and circulate freely
      1. P. Malariae may remain in Red Blood Cells without lysis, latent for months to years
      2. Typically results in Red Blood Cell lysis within 48-72 hours of erythrocyte invasion
      3. Hemolysis is associated with fever spikes
        1. Fever spikes typically occur randomly, but may occur with RBC lysis in a pattern
        2. May cause Tertian Fever (recurring every third day)
        3. May cause Quartan Fever (recurring every fourth day)
    4. Circulating merozoites differentiate into Gametocytes
      1. Gametocytes are the sexual form of plasmodium
      2. Mosquito ingests gametocytes from infected host
      3. Protozoa develop within the Mosquito over a 10-21 day course
      4. Mosquito infects next human host with bite

IV. Precautions

  1. Fever in a returning traveler from Malaria endemic area is Malaria until proven otherwise
  2. Up to 50% of Malaria cases are misdiagnosed on the first visit
  3. Initial presentations are often mild and non-specific (fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, Headache)
  4. Malaria (esp. P falciparum) requires emergent evaluation
    1. Clinical decompensation or death may occur within 24 to 36 hours in a Malaria naive patient

V. Symptoms

  1. Timing
    1. Presentation within the first month of return from travel to endemic region
      1. Plasmodium Falciparum Incubation Period is typically 12 to 14 days (range 7 to 30 days)
      2. See Fever in the Returning Traveler for timing of other illnesses in the differential
    2. Delayed presentation beyond 2 months may occur with the use of chemoprophylaxis
      1. Plasmodiun ovale and Plasmodium Vivax may have delayed presentations, months later
  2. Initial prodrome
    1. Headache
    2. Malaise
  3. Next
    1. Fever (>50% of patients)
    2. Shaking chills
  4. Next
    1. Drowsiness
    2. Lethargy
    3. Fatigue
  5. Other symptoms
    1. Myalgias
      1. More severe in Dengue Fever
    2. Muscle tenderness
      1. More severe in Leptospirosis and Typhus
    3. Arthralgias
    4. Back pain
    5. Gastrointestinal Symptoms (may be isolated presentation in children)
      1. Nausea
      2. Vomiting
      3. Diarrhea
      4. Abdominal Pain

VI. Signs

  1. Fever for 1-8 hours
  2. Fever recurs
    1. Plasmodium Vivax: 48 hour intervals (Tertian Fever)
    2. Plasmodium Malariae: 72 hour intervals (Quartan Fever)
    3. Plasmodium Falciparum: Variable
  3. Gastrointestinal findings (in <35-40% of cases)
    1. Tender Splenomegaly
  4. Severe Falciparum Malaria
    1. Hypotension and shock
    2. Multisystem failure
      1. Pulmonary Edema
      2. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
      3. Renal Failure (1% of cases)
      4. Jaundice and liver failure (associated with poor prognosis)
    3. Cerebral Malaria
      1. Altered Mental Status to unresponsive
      2. Seizures
      3. Meningismus

VII. Differential Diagnosis

  1. See Fever in the Returning Traveler
  2. See Vector-Borne Infection
  3. Arboviruses are also Vector-Borne Infections (Aedes aegypti Mosquito-Borne Disease is common vector)
    1. Typhoid Fever
    2. Dengue Fever
    3. Chikungunya
    4. Zika Virus
    5. Yellow Fever
    6. Japanese Encephalitis (Culex Mosquito species)
  4. Rash is uncommon in Malaria (aside from Petechiae in severe Falciparum Malaria with DIC) and suggests other diagnosis
    1. See Febrile Traveler with Rash
    2. Dengue Fever
    3. Chikungunya
    4. Zika Virus
    5. Typhus
    6. Enteric Fever
    7. Meningococcus
  5. Other Bacterial Infections
    1. Sepsis
    2. Meningitis
    3. Pneumonia
  6. Other Viral Infections
    1. Viral Hepatitis
    2. Acute HIV Infection
    3. Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
    4. Influenza
    5. COVID-19
  7. Other Parasitic Infections
    1. Leptospirosis
    2. Visceral Leishmaniasis
    3. African Trypanosomiasis

VIII. Labs

  1. Blood Glucose
    1. Hypoglycemia may occur (esp. children)
  2. Complete Blood Count (CBC) with differential
    1. Especially consider Malaria with Leukopenia and Left Shift, Thrombocytopenia
    2. Hemoglobin or Hematocrit consistent with Anemia (29%)
    3. Leukopenia with White Blood Cell Count <5000/mm3 (26%)
    4. Thrombocytopenia (45%)
    5. Bandemia (85%)
  3. Urinalysis
    1. Urobilinogen positive
    2. Hemoglobinuria (rare, may occur with Plasmodium Falciparum)
  4. Cerebrospinal Fluid Examination
    1. Indicated in Altered Mental Status and fever
    2. Exclude Meningitis and Encephalitis (esp. if Malaria diagnosis is unclear)
    3. Malaria CSF is typically normal (aside from mild CSF Pleocytosis, mild increased CSF Protein)

IX. Diagnosis

  1. Peripheral Blood Smear
    1. Gold standard for diagnosis
    2. Stains
      1. Giemsa stain (reference standard stain for Malaria evaluation with thick and thin smears)
        1. Thin blood smear (first-line Malaria evaluation)
          1. Giemsa stain of blood fixed with Alcohol to prevent Red Blood Cell lysis
          2. Thin stain can identify Malaria species and quantify Parasitemia
          3. High Test Sensitivity
        2. Thick blood smear (perform if thin blood smear negative)
          1. Giemsa stain of blood allowed to dry on slide (allowing cell lysis)
          2. Thick stain evaluates for malaria Parasites in general
      2. Wright stain (standard stain for most Complete Blood Count associated manual differentials)
        1. Test Sensitivity approaches that of Giemsa stain
    3. Protocol
      1. Stat blood smear with direct communication with reading pathologist (alert for Malaria concern)
      2. Examine new smear every 12-24 hours for 2-3 days (low Parasitemia may require additional smears)
      3. Sample is best obtained when patient is febrile
    4. Image
      1. HemeoncFalciparum.jpg
  2. Rapid blood dipstick testing (when smear not available)
    1. Tests
      1. Binax-NOW (only detect P. falciparum and P. vivax; only FDA approved test in U.S.)
      2. HRP-2 detection (only detects P. falciparum)
      3. LDH detection (detects all 4 Malaria types)
    2. Benefits
      1. Good Test Sensitivity and Negative Predictive Value, yet easy to perform and does not require lab facility
      2. Results available within 5 to 20 minutes
    3. Precautions
      1. All rapid tests should be followed by blood smears
        1. Positive tests do not quantitate Parasitemia
        2. Negative rapid tests should be confirmed with blood smears
      2. Decreased Test Sensitivity with low levels of Parasitemia
        1. Examples: Patients who took chemoprophylaxis, or prior exposure
  3. Malaria PCR
    1. Detects low levels of parsites in blood (<5 Parasites/ul)
    2. Distinguishes between plasmodium species
    3. May be used to monitor response to treatment at 5-8 days (however False Positives may occur)

X. Management: Falciparum or Knowlesi Malaria or Severe Case and Unknown Species

  1. See CDC emergency contact information as below for Malaria management guidance
  2. Precautions
    1. Substandard and counterfeit antimalarial use is widespread in resource limited and low income countries
    2. Anti-Malarials Considered safe in Pregnancy
      1. Chloroquine
      2. Hydroxychloroquine
      3. Quinine
      4. Clindamycin
      5. Mefloquin
      6. Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) safe in second and third trimester
        1. Artemether/Lumefantrine (Coartem) may be used in first trimester if no other reasonable option
  3. Hospital Admission Criteria
    1. Admit Falciparum Malaria and Knowlesi cases to hospital (high mortality in first 48 hours)
      1. Also admit all undiferentiated cases where species of Malaria cannot be discerned
    2. High Risk Cohorts
      1. Immunocompromised
      2. Malaria naive patients (no prior Malaria infections)
      3. Children
      4. Pregnancy
    3. Severe case criteria (any of the following)
      1. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <11 or Coma
      2. Seizures
      3. Severe Anemia (Hemoglobin <7 g/dl in adults, <5 g/dl in children age <12 years)
      4. Acute Kidney Injury
      5. Hypoglycemia
      6. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
      7. Shock
      8. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
      9. Acidosis
      10. Liver Dysfunction
      11. Parasite Density >5%
  4. Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) antiparasitic agents (2 agents)
    1. Regimens based on severity (see above for severe case criteria)
    2. General Protocol
      1. Agent 1: Artemisinin (or dihydroartemisinin, artemether, or Artesunate) - first-line agent
        1. See Artesunate (preferred in U.S.)
        2. Artemisinin is contraindicated in first trimester of pregnancy
        3. Use oral formulation in non-severe cases, and intravenous formulation in severe cases
      2. Agent 2: Lumefantrine (see below), Chloroquine, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (Fansidar) or Mefloquine
      3. Treat for 3 days (6 days if travel to areas with high Malaria resistance)
    3. Non-Severe Cases: Artemether/Lumefantrine (Coartem)
      1. Each tablet contains 20 mg Artemether (an Artemisinin) and 120 mg Lumefantrine
        1. Tablets may be crushed and mixed with 10 ml water if unable to swallow tablets (e.g. children)
        2. Tablets are best absorbed with high fat foods
        3. Repeat dose if Vomiting occurs within 2 hours of dose
      2. Each dose based on weight
        1. Children 5 kg to 15 kg: 1 tablet per dose
        2. Children 15 kg to 25 kg: 2 tablets per dose
        3. Children 25 kg to 35 kg: 3 tablets per dose
        4. Children >35 kg and Adults: 4 tablets per dose
      3. Dosing (3 day course, with doses per weight as above)
        1. Give one dose every 8 hours for 2 doses on day 1, then one dose every 12 hours on days 2 and 3
    4. Severe Cases: Intravenous Artemisinin (Artesunate is preferred)
      1. Indicated in severe cases (see criteria above), including Parasite load >5%
      2. Start immediately at the time of diagnosis
      3. Artesunate 2.4 mg/kg at start, 12 and 24 hours, then daily until Parasitemia <1% (up to 7 days)
      4. Obtain blood smear Parasite stains for density every 12 hours
        1. May transition to a full course of oral therapy (see Coartem above) when Parasitemia <1%, at least 4 hours after third dose
  5. Other agents when Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) is unavailable
    1. Chloroquine sensitive regions
      1. Chloroquine
        1. Adults
          1. Load: 1000 mg salt (600 mg base) orally at start
          2. Maintenance: 500 mg salt (300 mg base) orally at 6 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after initial dose
        2. Child
          1. Load: 16.7 mg/kg salt (10 mg/kg base) orally at start
          2. Maintenance: 8.3 mg/kg salt (5 mg/kg base) orally at 6 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after initial dose
      2. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
        1. Adult: 800 mg salt (620 mg base) to start, then 400 mg salt (310 mg base) at 6, 24 and 48 hours after initial dose
        2. Child: 12.9 mg/kg salt (10 mg/kg base) to start, then 6.5 mg/kg salt (5 mg/kg mg base) at 6, 24 and 48 hours after initial dose
    2. Chloroquine resistant regions
      1. Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone)
        1. See Atovaquone for dosing
      2. Quinine-based protocols (2 agents)
        1. General
          1. Avoid in severe disease
          2. Use 7 day course if acquired in Southeast Asia
        2. Quinine 10 mg/kg up to 648 mg salt (8.3 mg/kg up to 542 mg base) three times daily orally for 3 to 7 days AND
        3. Second Agent
          1. Doxycycline 2.2 mg/kg up to 100 mg orally twice daily for 7 days (or Tetracycline) OR
          2. Clindamycin (if Tetracyclines contraindicated) 20 mg/kg orally for 3 to 7 days
      3. Mefloquine (other options are preferred)
        1. Adult: 750 mg salt (684 mg base) for first dose, then second dose of 500 mg salt (456 mg base) in 6 to 12 hours
        2. Child: 15 mg/kg salt (13.7 mg/kg base) for first dose, then second dose of 10 mg/kg salt (9.1 mg/kg base) in 6 to 12 hours
  6. Plasmodium Malariae and Plasmodium knowlesi
    1. Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) is recommended despite lack of Chloroquine resistance (see protocol below)
    2. Admit all Plasmodium knowlesi cases (high risk for severe disease)
  7. Following Initial Treatment: Plasmodium Ovale or Plasmodium Vivax (risk of relapsing infection)
    1. Risk of dormant Malaria (due to hypnozoites) and relapsing infection
      1. Follow initial course with following therapies to prevent relapsing infection
      2. Mothers infected with P. vivax or P. ovale during pregnancy
        1. Test infants for G6PD Deficiency after delivery
        2. Mothers should Breast feed and take either Primaquine (No G6PD Deficiency) or Chloroquine (G6PD deficient)
    2. No G6PD Deficiency
      1. Primaquine
        1. Adult: 52.6 mg salt (30 mg base) orally daily for 14 days after initial course
        2. Child: 0.8 mg/kg salt (0.5 mg/kg base up to 30 mg/day) orally daily for 14 days after initial course
        3. Decrease dose if Tinnitus or hyperexcitability occur
      2. Tafenoquine
        1. Adult (>age 16 years): 300 mg orally once after first or second day following Chloroquine course
        2. Contraindicated age <16 years or Psychotic Disorder
        3. Use only if Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine were used to treat initial infection
    3. G6PD Deficiency
      1. Continue Chloroquine prophylaxis 500 mg salt (300 mg base) dosed weekly for one year OR
      2. Primaquine may be considered if G6PD is mild or intermediate
        1. Consult infectious disease
  8. Specific complication management
    1. Shock
      1. Intravenous hydration (including fluid boluses)
      2. Obtain Blood Cultures and add Third Generation Cephalosporin to regimen
        1. Continue until cultures back (risk of comorbid Bacterial Sepsis)
    2. Cerebral Malaria (18% of cases)
      1. Seizures
      2. Supportive care including intubation may be needed
      3. Meningism (uncommon but carries 23% mortality)
    3. Bleeding
      1. Coagulopathy reversal
      2. Blood Transfusion
  9. Other non-specific management
    1. Intravenous Fluids
    2. Antipyretics
    3. Antiemetics
  10. Follow-up
    1. Evaluate for Hemolytic Anemia at 30 days after treatment of severe cases

XI. Prevention

  1. See Prevention of Vector-borne Infection
  2. Malaria Chemoprophylaxis is critical and not taken adequately in as many as 75% of U.S. travelers
    1. See Malaria Chemoprophylaxis
  3. Malaria Vaccine
    1. WHO has recommended use for Malaria falciparum prevention in children
    2. Vaccination initiated in 2021 in Ghana, Malawi and Kenya (>1 million doses administered as of 2022)
    3. Alonso (2022) N Engl J Med 386(11): 1005-7 [PubMed]
  4. Stay in air conditioned or well screened rooms
  5. Reduce nighttime outdoor activity (Dusk until dawn)
  6. Apply an effective Insect Repellent
    1. DEET 20 to 30% to skin every 3-4 hours or
    2. Picaridin 20% or
    3. p-Menthane-3,8-diol (PMD, Menthoglycol)
  7. Spray clothing and bed nets with Permethrin
  8. Wear long sleeve shirt and pants
  9. Use Insecticide aerosols at dusk in living areas
  10. Use a strong fan at bedside
  11. Use Mosquito bed netting even in hotel rooms
    1. Mosquito net pre-treated with Permethrin
    2. Reapply Permethrin every 6 months

XII. Complications

  1. Encephalopathy
  2. Hypoglycemia
  3. Acute Renal Failure
  4. Hepatic Dysfunction
  5. Pulmonary Edema
  6. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
  7. Hemolytic Anemia
  8. Shock

XIII. Prognosis

  1. Plasmodium Falciparum Mortality: 4% (20% in severe cases)
  2. More severe cases in children and pregnant women

XIV. Resources

  1. See Travel Resources
  2. CDC Malaria hotline (health care professionals)
    1. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/contact.html
    2. Phone: 770-488-7788 (daytime, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Eastern Standard Time)
    3. Phone: 855-856-4713 (daytime, toll free)
    4. Phone: 770-488-7100 (after hours, emergency operations center, ask to speak with DPDM expert)
  3. CDC Malaria Information
    1. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria
  4. Malaria Foundation International
    1. http://www.malaria.org

XV. References

  1. Anderson (2014) Crit Dec Emerg Med 28(7): 11-9
  2. Black, Martin, DeVos (2018) Crit Dec Emerg Med 32(8): 3-12
  3. Mason and Marsh in Herbert (2019) EM:Rap 19(5):12-3
  4. Nordurft-Froman and DeVos (2022) Crit Dec Emerg Med 36(4): 4-15
  5. Baird (1999) Med Clin North Am 83(4):923-44 [PubMed]
  6. Croft (2000) BMJ 321(7254):154-60 [PubMed]
  7. Feder (2013) Am Fam Physician 88(8): 524-30 [PubMed]
  8. Johnson (2012) Am Fam Physician 85(10): 973-7 [PubMed]
  9. Lo Re (2003) Am Fam Physician 68(3):509-16 [PubMed]
  10. Shahbodaghi (2022) Am Fam Physician 106(3): 270-8 [PubMed]

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