
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Malaria physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Physical findings in malaria may include fever, weakness, pallor, jaundice, and perspiration. Other findings on physical exam are tachycardia, tachypnea, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly.
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
Appearance of the Patient
The appearance of the patient depends on the stage of the disease. The patient may be ill-looking, shivering, and/or sweating. After the fever episode, patients appear extremely tired and sleepy. In more severe cases of the disease, the patient may appear anemic, with jaundice, or even in coma.[1]
Vitals
Temperature
- A fever is often present
Pulse
Rate
- Tachycardia may be present
Blood Pressure
- Hypotension may be present (in severe cases of the disease)
Respiratory Rate
- Tachypnea may be present
Skin
- Cyanosis may be present (in severe cases of the disease, where there may be respiratory distress)
- Jaundice may be present (in severe anemia)
- Pallor may be present
- Petechiae may be present (in severe cases of the disease, when there is thrombocytopenia)
Eyes
- Icteric sclera may be present (in severe anemia with jaundice)
- Conjunctivae may be pale
Nose
- Alar flare (in severe cases of the disease, where there may be respiratory distress)
Throat
- The throat may be erythematous
Lungs
- Pulmonary edema may be present
- Consolidation may be present with reduced breath sounds auscultated (rarely)
- Intercostal retraction may be present (in severe cases of the disease, where there may be respiratory distress)
Abdomen
- Abdominal distention may be present
- Hepatomegaly may be present
- Splenomegaly may be present
Genitourinary
Extremities
- Cyanosis may be present (in severe anemia)
- Edema may be present (in severe disease, where there may be renal failure)
Neurologic
- Coma may be present (in cerebral malaria)
- Mental status may be altered
- Convulsions may occur
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: JoΓ£o AndrΓ© Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
