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Plasmodium
falciparum
P.
falciparum tends
to invade all ages of RBCs, and the proportion of infected
cells may exceed 50%. Schizogony occurs in the internal
organs (spleen, liver, bone marrow, etc.) rather than in
the circulating blood. Ischemia caused by the plugging of
vessels within these organs by masses of parasitized RBCs
will produce various symptoms, depending on the organ involved.
Onset
of a P. falciparum malaria attack occurs from 8 to
12 days after infection and is preceded by 3 to 4 days of
vague symptoms such as aches, pains, headache, fatigue, anorexia
or nausea. The onset is characterized by fever, a more severe
headache, and nausea and vomitting, with occasional severe
epigastic pain. There may be only a feeling
of chilliness at the onset of fever. Periodicity
of the cycle
will not be established during the early stages,
and
the presumptive
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