A patient has been treated for an acute attack of P. vivax ...

[arivle123]

A patient has been treated for an acute attack of P. vivax malaria. For relapse prevention, the nurse expects the provider to order which medication?
 
  a. Chloroquine (Aralen Phosphate)
  b. Doxycycline (Vibramax)
  c. Primaquine phosphate
  d. Quinine (Qualaquin)

Question 2

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the two most common forms of malaria, Plasmodium vivax malaria and Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Which statement by a student indicates a need for further teaching?
 
  a. Once erythrocyte forms of P. falciparum are eliminated, relapse will not occur.
  b. Patients with P. vivax malaria experience relapse with increased frequency over time.
  c. Patients with P. falciparum malaria experience symptoms at irregular intervals.
  d. Patients with P. vivax malaria rarely encounter drug resistance.

[ciecieme]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
The agent of choice for preventing relapse of P. vivax malaria is primaquine, which is highly active against the hepatic forms of P. vivax. Chloroquine is the drug of choice for treating mild to moderate acute attacks of either type of malaria. Doxycycline is used for chloroquine-resistant malaria. Quinine has little effect on hepatic forms of malaria, so it is not useful for relapse prevention.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Relapse is likely with P. vivax malaria, because dormant parasites remain in the liver. Over time, episodes of relapse become less frequent and eventually stop entirely. Relapse does not occur with P. falciparum malaria, because this type does not form hypnozoites that can become dormant. Symptoms of P. falciparum malaria occur at irregular intervals, unlike those of P. vivax malaria, which peak every 48 hours. Drug resistance by P. vivax is relatively uncommon.

[arivle123]

Thank you!

[ciecieme]

Always glad to help...