Any of the Plasmodium species can cause uncomplicated malaria, but Qualaquin™ is FDA-approved only for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.
The symptoms of uncomplicated malaria include:
- Fever and flu-like illness
- Sweats
- Shaking chills
- Headache
- Malaise
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting.1
The stages consist of:
- A cold stage (sensation of cold, shivering)
- A hot stage (fever, headaches, vomiting; seizures in young children)
- A sweating stage (sweats, return to normal temperature, tiredness).1
Classically, the release of merozoites from red blood cells causes an inflammatory response, the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and a characteristic pattern of fever depending on the particular species.1,2 The fever occurs approximately every 48 hours (called "tertian malaria") for P. falciparum, P. vivax, and P. ovale, and 72 hours (called "quartan malaria") for P. malariae.1,2 P. falciparum is known for its lack of recognizable fever patterns.2
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malaria: Topic home [Web site]. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/Malaria/ [1]. Accessed June 6, 2006.
2 Hickman MS. Chapter VI.30: Malaria. Case Based Pediatrics for Medical Students and Residents. May 2003. Available at: http://www.hawaii.edu/medicine/pediatrics/pedtext/s06c30.html [2]. Accessed June 15, 2006.