| Malaria is
transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito and should be suspected
in any ill person returning from an endemic area. The symptoms of chills,
fever, headache, muscle pains, associated spenomegaly, and anemia should
occur within three weeks of exposure.
The first attacks are
severe, but repeated attacks become milder. The diagnosis is confirmed by
finding parasitized erythrocytes on Wright's or Giemsa-stained smears. The
parasites should be seen and diagnosed on at least one slide, if blood is
obtained every six hours during a 24-hour period. Associated laboratory
finding are a normal or low white count and an elevated erythrocyte
sedimentation rate.
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