What is the most common cause of malaria in India?

Appeared in: WCL Staff Nurse - 2022

Explanation

Plasmodium vivax as it is the predominant species causing malaria in India.
According to epidemiological data, P. vivax is responsible for the highest number of malaria cases across the Indian subcontinent.
A key feature of P. vivax is its ability to form dormant liver stages called hypnozoites, which can reactivate weeks or months later, causing relapses of the infection.
While P. falciparum is also common and more deadly, P. vivax has a wider geographic distribution and higher overall incidence in India.

Option B: This species is very rare in the Indian subcontinent. Its primary endemic region is tropical Africa.
Option C: This is not a species of the malaria parasite. Primaquine is an anti-malarial drug used to provide a 'radical cure' by eliminating the liver stages of P. vivax and P. ovale.
Option D: This species is uncommon in India, accounting for less than 1% of all malaria cases. The option 'Plasmodiummerel' is a misspelling of Plasmodium malariae.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Epidemiology of Malaria in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key nursing responsibility in managing P. vivax malaria is ensuring the patient completes the full course of primaquine for radical cure to prevent relapses.
CRITICAL SAFETY ALERT: Before administering primaquine, it is mandatory to test the patient for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Giving primaquine to a G6PD-deficient individual can cause severe, life-threatening intravascular hemolysis.
Patient education should include the importance of completing the 14-day primaquine regimen and reporting symptoms like dark urine or jaundice, which could indicate hemolysis.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question to identify the key components: 'most common cause', 'malaria', and 'India'.
Next, review the options provided. Identify any obvious errors or distractors. In this case, 'Plasmodium primaquine' is a drug, not a parasite, and 'Plasmodiummerel' is a misspelling.
Recall the four main human malaria species: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae.
Access your knowledge of malaria epidemiology in India. Remember that while P. falciparum is the most deadly, P. vivax is the most prevalent.
Compare the prevalence of each species. P. vivax is the most common, followed by P. falciparum. P. malariae and P. ovale are rare.
Based on this comparison, select Plasmodium vivax as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) pp. 116-118, 123-125

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2175-2177

Practise the full WCL Staff Nurse - 2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.