B51.0: Plasmodium vivax malaria with rupture of spleen

You have malaria.

You have been infected with specific pathogens. These pathogens are single-cell organisms and they propagate in the red blood cells, in particular. This damages the red blood cells, and they may burst.

If the red blood cells burst, the pathogens are distributed to the entire body via the blood. This usually causes a high temperature and shivering. The patient often feels alternately hot and cold. The fever may recur in cycles every 3 days. This is typical of malaria. They are usually less resilient, too, and tired. They often have headaches and aching limbs as with the common cold.

The malaria has greatly enlarged your spleen. The spleen is on the top left side of the abdomen. Old blood cells are broken down in the spleen. Furthermore, defense cells are stored. If the defense cells are needed, they are then released from the spleen into the blood. Your spleen has become so large that it has torn. It can then bleed into the stomach. This can make you very sick.

The pathogens are often transmitted by certain mosquitoes. This requires warm conditions. This is why malaria usually occurs in warm regions. You should try especially to protect yourself against mosquitoes there. Even if someone has had malaria before, they can get it again.