When do malaria relapses occur?

When do malaria relapses occur?

• A. After recovery from the first illness
• B. During the first illness
• C. Before any symptoms
• D. Months after infection without recovery

Answer: (A)

Relapse is driven by dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) of P. vivax and P. ovale. After the initial blood-stage infection is cleared and the patient has recovered, these hypnozoites can awaken and cause a new round of parasitemia, bringing fever again. That’s why the timing described as occurring after the first illness has resolved best fits relapse. It isn’t during the initial attack, and it isn’t before symptoms; relapse occurs after a period of apparent recovery due to reactivation of liver parasites.

Relapse is driven by dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) of P. vivax and P. ovale. After the initial blood-stage infection is cleared and the patient has recovered, these hypnozoites can awaken and cause a new round of parasitemia, bringing fever again. That’s why the timing described as occurring after the first illness has resolved best fits relapse. It isn’t during the initial attack, and it isn’t before symptoms; relapse occurs after a period of apparent recovery due to reactivation of liver parasites.