10 Symptoms of Malaria
Symptom #6: Bloody Stools
Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging may be present in acute malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. However, this condition can be indistinguishable from acute bacillary dysentery. Patient’s stools will contain blood, mucus, pus or epithelial cell debris. Among other factors, this is caused by the sequestration of red blood cells in blood vessels of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and small intestine) that lead to capillary occlusion and ischemia (inadequate blood supply). According to the World Health Organization the presence of this symptom meets the criteria for complicated malaria and has increased mortality.
It is worth noting that continued loss of blood from the gastrointestinal tract can lead to anemia and other health problems including faintness, fatigue, physical weakness and low blood pressure. A patient who has had this problem for too long may require hospitalization for treatment of malaria and blood transfusion.
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