Question

Black water fever is a serious complication of
A. Plasmodium vivax
B. Plasmodium falciparum
C. Plasmodium ovale
D. Plasmodium malariae

Answer 1

Hint: Black water fever is a serious complication of malaria disease. This was first linked with malaria infection by Sierra Leonean physician Dr John Farrell Easmon in 1884 by a pamphlet “The nature and treatment of Black water fever.”

Complete answer:
Black water fever causes the red blood cells to burst in the bloodstream. This burst of RBC into the blood leads to release of hemoglobin directly into blood vessels and the urine and leads to kidney failure. There is onset of symptoms like chills, high fever, jaundice, vomiting, anema along with dark red or black urine. The Black water fever is an autoimmune reaction of our body caused by the interaction with the malaria parasite and by use of quinine. This is caused by parasitization of red blood cells with the Plasmodium falciparum.
Black water fever is a serious infection of malaria which has a high mortality rate as it causes kidney failure. It was a common infection before 1950 compared to today. Quinine plays a role in triggering the condition and this drug is no longer used for malaria prophylaxis. The destruction of red blood cells caused in this disease is known as hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria, jaundice, anuria and causes death in majority of the cases.

Hence, the correct option is B. Plasmodium falciparum.

Note: The treatment of malaria includes antimalarial chemotherapy, intravenous fluid and supportive care which includes intense care and dialysis. Quinine remains an important component for the treatment of the malaria infection.