Quartan fever
Quartan fever is one of the four types of malaria which can be contracted by humans.
Quartan fever | |
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P. malariae schizont in a thick blood smear | |
Specialty | Infectious disease |
Symptoms | Fever |
Duration | Fever in 72 hour intervals |
Causes | Plasmodium spread by mosquitos |
Diagnostic method | Blood tests |
Medication | Chloroquine |
It is specifically caused by the Plasmodium malariae species, one of the six species of the protozoan genus Plasmodium. Quartan fever is a form of malaria where an onset of fever occurs in an interval of three to four days, hence the name "quartan". It is transmitted by bites of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Symptoms include fevers which range from approximately 40–41 °C (104–106 °F) and occur periodically in 72 hour intervals. Although cases of malaria have occurred throughout the world, quartan fever typically occurs in the subtropics. Quartan fever is considered to be a less severe form of malaria fever that can be cured by anti-malarial medication, and prevention methods can be taken in order to avoid infection.