Basically, because of the peculiar life cycle of the Plasmodium spp., infection causes massive rupture of red blood cells (RBCs). This causes chills and fever, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (which may resemble intestinal infections), while fever is followed by drenching sweats. Headache, convulsions, joint pain, anemia can all be signs of a Plasmodium sp. infection.
Pathologically, the most characteristic symptoms are enlarged spleen (due to congestion of sinusoids with RBCs), anemia, hemolysis, and kidney damage -- leads to hemoglobinuria (RBCs in the urine), darkening the urine (termed “blackwater fever”).
2007-02-12 06:02:53
·
answer #1
·
answered by citizen insane 5
·
0⤊
0⤋