May 26, 2012
Topics A-Z Unanswered Questions Malaria - Plasmodium falciparum Long Term Effects
Malaria - Plasmodium falciparum Long Term Effects |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: Last year I contracted plasmodium falciparum and was treated in-hospital. It was severe, but did not result in blood transfussion. My question is, what are the long-term side-effects of this type of malaria? I have chronic fatigue and can fall asleep at any given time. I have been exercising regularly and keep a balanced diet and take vitamin, but found that I am constantly fatigued (I can fall seleep even after a workout). I have researched long term effects but have not found anythstudies that provide information, especially since this strand of malaria has been known to be most fatal. Dear Mark: It is really difficult to answer the long term side-effects of falciparum malaria. The overall outcome is good with proper treatment and the only long term complication that I can think of is anemia in case of a chronic infection.The only way to diagnose wheteher you have anemia or not is to get your hemoglobin levels checked. Anemia may be one of the reason for your fatigue. There are a few things you can do to help in insomnia : i) Sleep at the same time every night, establish a pattern ii) Avoid exercise and caffeine before bedtime iii) Use the bed only for sleeping and not using laptops, watching tv when in bed. iv) Avoide day time naps. I hope the information is useful to you, take care.
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 28 October 2011 ) |
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