Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Isolation and Analysis of Brain-sequestered Leukocytes from Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected Mice
12:48

Isolation and Analysis of Brain-sequestered Leukocytes from Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected Mice

Published on: January 2, 2013

[Severe imported malaria in critical care patients]

Inês Palma Dos Reis1, Catarina Serafim, Bernardino Valério

  • 1Serviço de Medicina 4.Hospital São Francisco Xavier, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisboa, Portugal.

Acta Medica Portuguesa
|December 6, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Severe imported malaria cases in Portugal highlight the importance of prompt treatment. Early, aggressive care in intensive units significantly reduces mortality and long-term complications from Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Tropical Medicine
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Imported malaria poses a significant diagnostic challenge in non-endemic regions like Portugal.
  • Severe clinical forms of malaria can result in high mortality rates.

Observation:

  • Seven cases of severe imported malaria were admitted to an intensive care unit between 2000 and 2010.
  • All cases involved Plasmodium falciparum, acquired from travel to African endemic areas.
  • Inadequate prophylaxis was noted in most patients.

Findings:

  • High parasitemia in non-immune individuals and delayed treatment correlated with severe clinical presentations and organ failure.
  • Organ support and exchange blood transfusions were necessary for some patients.
  • A single death occurred, linked to a significant delay in initiating therapy.

Implications:

  • Early and aggressive treatment in a critical care setting is crucial for managing severe imported malaria.
  • Prompt intervention can lead to favorable outcomes with low mortality and minimal sequelae.
  • Intensive care management is vital for patients with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Tracking of Edema Development and Microvascular Pathology in a Model of Experimental Cerebral Malaria Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging09:04

In Vivo Tracking of Edema Development and Microvascular Pathology in a Model of Experimental Cerebral Malaria Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: June 8, 2017

A Simple Protocol for Platelet-mediated Clumping of Plasmodium falciparum-infected Erythrocytes in a Resource Poor Setting07:27

A Simple Protocol for Platelet-mediated Clumping of Plasmodium falciparum-infected Erythrocytes in a Resource Poor Setting

Published on: May 16, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...
Pneumonia IV: Management01:28

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Symbiosis00:58

Symbiosis

Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
Acute Respiratory Failure-II01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-II

Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include: