Clinical review of malaria for the emergency physician

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus, and is one of the most prevalent diseases in Africa and around the world. Emergency physicians in both endemic and non-endemic regions often encounter initial presentations of malaria, and knowledge about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease is crucial in caring for these patients. This article covers briefly the epidemiology of malaria and the lifecycle of the Plasmodium parasite. This is followed by a discussion of the clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with malaria, as pertinent to the African emergency physician.

Les médecins urgentistes des régions endémiques et non-endémiques sont souvent confrontés à des premières manifestations de paludisme, et les connaissances en matière de physiopathologie, de diagnostic et de traitement de cette maladie sont essentielles à la prise en charge de ces patients. Cet article couvre brièvement l’épidémiologie du paludisme et le cycle de vie du parasite Plasmodium. Ce résumé est suivi d’une discussion sur l’évaluation clinique, le diagnostic et la prise en charge des patients souffrant du paludisme, des éléments pertinents pour le médecin urgentiste africain.

Malaria can present with a myriad of non-specific signs and symptoms, making the differential diagnosis broad. Most cases of malaria are not severe, and can be treated with supportive therapy. Recommendations for anti-malarial medication regimens are regularly updated due to changing resistance patterns.