Notes on the treatment of malaria occurring in individuals returning from service in malarious areas, 1944 / by command of the Army Council.

  • Great Britain. War Office.
Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on the treatment of malaria occurring in individuals returning from service in malarious areas, 1944 / by command of the Army Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    wni yun I.— Introductory. Cases of malaria are likely to occur among officers and soldiers who have returned to this country from service overseas in a _ matarious country, Attacks may be relapses of a previous recognised infection or they may be primary, especially in those in whom infection may have been kept in abeyance by prophylactic treatment - while in the endemic area. In the latter instances a history ofa previous attack may not be obtained, and the onset of the attack may be delayed for months after the cessation of prophylactic treatment. The necessity for early recognition and adequate treatment of cases of malaria is very great, and the possibility of malarial infection should be remembered in cases of pyrexia without obvious cause, especially if associated with shivering, vomiting and sub- sequent sweating, where there is a history of recent service in a malarious area. A high percentage of cases may be of the malignant tertian variety, in which severe symptoms may suddenly supervene at the onset or later in the attack, Exact diagnosis of malaria can be made only by the microscopical demonstration of the parasites in the blood, but, in the presence of | clinical symptoms, the lack of facilities for microscopical examina- tion should never cause delay in treatment. Before the exhibition of anti-malarial remedies, blood-slides (thick drop and film) should be made for subsequent confirmation of diagnosis by microscopy. The notes which follow detail lines of treatment based on army experience, and they have been framed for the guidance of all those who may be concerned in the treatment of cases. Alternative lines of treatment are given to meet circumstances where certain remedies - are not available, but it is to be remembered that the Standard Treatment detailed below is that found to be bést in the alleviation of symptoms and in prevention of relapse, and is the line recom- mended whenever possible. II.—Anti-malarial remedies. Drugs employed falk into two groups :— Group A.—Anti-symptomatic, anti-pyretic and for treatment of the acute attack. 1. Certain salts of Quinine. 2. Mepacrine hydrochloride, B.P. or Quinacrine hydro- ' chloride, U.S.P. (Proprietary names include Atabrin, Atebrin, Quinacrine, Chinacrine, etc.).