Indications of chronic malaria

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Malaria develops once a mosquito that is infected with a parasite bites an individual which results to high fever, chills and anemia. It is important to note that the individual will experience the initial symptoms of malaria between 10 days up to 4 weeks after the individual was infected.

It is vital to note that chronic malaria occurs once antibodies from a previous infection accumulates in the kidneys which results to reinfection. The symptoms linked with chronic malaria which has the tendency to reduce in severity and frequency as the individual establishes immunity to the condition include anemia, enlarged spleen, fever, jaundice, chills and gastrointestinal issues. If you want to learn more about malaria and the treatment options, read here.

Fever and chills

Individuals who have chronic malaria can develop alternating fevers and chills throughout the course of the infection. The individual can end up with fever as the immune system fights off the infection and works to prevent the parasite from propagating and spreading all over the body.

Malaria
Individuals who have chronic malaria can develop alternating fevers and chills throughout the course of the infection.

In some cases, others suffer from high fever that is accompanied by extreme fatigue and severe sweating as the body temperature falters. Additionally, those who have malaria can complain of chills or feel strangely cold. The individual can shiver or shake out of control or they have a difficult time warming up. An individual who has malaria can also have chills at one point and then followed by fever, resulting to a constant cycle of exhaustion and discomfort.

Enlarged spleen

A usual symptom of chronic malaria is an enlarged spleen. This occurs once the increasing amount of red blood cells clog up the blood vessels in the spleen, resulting to a rapid increase in its size. If the spleen is too large, there is a tendency that it can rupture and cause massive internal bleeding or hemorrhage.

Gastrointestinal issues

Individuals who have chronic malaria can suffer from an upset stomach that is accompanied by moderate to severe nausea or vomiting. Those who have malaria can suffer from constant episodes of uncontrollable diarrhea that involves harsh abdominal pain, cramping as well as bloating.

Anemia and jaundice

An individual with chronic malaria can end up with anemia and jaundice if it is left untreated. The immune system works by eliminating the parasites that are responsible for causing chronic malaria, thus resulting to a sharp decline in the red blood cells which lead to anemia.

Take note anemia can cause dizziness, fatigue, confusion or headache. In severe cases, individuals who have malaria can develop jaundice which occurs once a deficiency in red blood cells affects the organs in the body such as the liver. Once an individual with malaria experiences a yellowish tint in the skin and eyelids, it can indicate abnormal liver functioning.

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