The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseasesStitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Science
The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseases
Stitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Tropical medicine
When there are two generations of tertian parasites, each maturing
on successive days, we have a paroxysm every day—a quotidian
fever. Such a tertian infection is called a double tertian. In
quartan infections, with the seventy-two-hour cycle of development,
if we have two generations of parasites sporulating on succeeding
days, but with an apyretic day intervening, we have a double
quartan. If three generations of quartan parasites sporulate on
three successive days we have a triple quartan infection. When two
species of parasites are present in the same case we have a mixed
infection. Mixed infections of malignant tertian and benign tertian
are the most common, next, those of quartan and malignant tertian
and very rarely those showing quartan and benign tertian. All three
species have been found in a single individual.
CLINICAL TYPES
_A Typical Benign Tertian or Quartan Paroxysm._—(Other than for
the difference in periodicity the paroxysms of these two malarial
infections are alike.)
The ague attack generally commences with malaise and slight headache,
frequently accompanied by yawning and stretching. Chilly sensations
radiating from the spinal column to the extremities and the jaws give
way to actual chill with shaking body and chattering teeth, face
pinched and bluish and cutis anserina.
The pulse is frequent, small and of rather high tension, there is
increased frequency of urination and nausea and vomiting may be
present.
Notwithstanding the fact that the rectal temperature is steadily
rising five or six degrees during this cold stage there is a desire
on the part of the patient to cover himself with all the wraps
obtainable.
The cold stage, which usually lasts from twenty to sixty minutes, is
succeeded by the hot stage.
At first there is a feeling of slight relief from the misery of the
chill but this is soon lost sight of in the increasing headache and
feeling of intense heat.
The previously welcome blankets are cast aside. The face now becomes
flushed, the eyes shining, and the pulse more full. Epigastric
discomfort, nausea and vomiting are apt to become more prominent in
this stage. The patient often complains of a throbbing headache. It
is at this time that he may become slightly delirious. A sense of
tension or even pain may be experienced in the region of the spleen,
which organ will be found tender even if not already palpable. Herpes
about the nose and lips is almost as common as in lobar pneumonia.
An attending bronchitis is not uncommon.
The fever remains high, from 105° to 106°F., and continues so
elevated for from four to six hours to be succeeded by the sweating
stage. In this the dry skin becomes moist and perspiration breaks
out first on the forehead to be followed by a more or less marked
profuse sweating of the entire body. The pulse becomes slower, the
temperature falls rapidly and the patient falls asleep to awake
slightly exhausted but feeling well.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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