Malarial hemoglobinuria is a medical condition that occurs when a patient experiences recurrent bouts of fever and develops dark-colored urine because of the presence of hemoglobin. The word "malarial" is pronounced as /məˈleɪriəl/, while "hemoglobinuria" is pronounced as /hiːməˌɡloʊbjəˈn(j)ʊriə/. The word malarial is derived from the disease malaria, caused by a mosquito-borne parasite, while hemoglobinuria refers to the presence of hemoglobin in the urine. Understanding the phonetic transcription of these words can be useful for better pronunciation and communication between medical professionals and patients.
Malarial hemoglobinuria refers to a medical condition characterized by the presence of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, in the urine due to the destruction of red blood cells. It is primarily associated with severe forms of malaria caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
When a person is infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite multiplies within the red blood cells, causing them to rupture and release hemoglobin. In some cases, this destruction of red blood cells is so extensive that it leads to the release of excessive amounts of hemoglobin into the bloodstream. As a result, the kidneys are overwhelmed, and some hemoglobin is filtered into the urine, giving it a dark reddish or brownish color.
Malarial hemoglobinuria is commonly accompanied by other symptoms of severe malaria, including high fever, chills, sweating, fatigue, and enlarged spleen. The condition is usually considered a medical emergency, as it indicates severe complications of malaria that may lead to organ damage or failure if not promptly treated.
To diagnose malarial hemoglobinuria, medical professionals may conduct a urine test to detect the presence of hemoglobin. Prompt treatment with antimalarial medications is crucial to control the parasite and stop the destruction of red blood cells. Additional supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, and close monitoring of organ function, may be necessary to manage complications and ensure a successful recovery.
Blackwater fever, bilious remittent fever, hemoglobinuric fever; a disease associated with malaria, marked, in severe cases, by fever, bilious vomiting, tympanites, jaundice, and the passage of dark colored urine containing hemoglobin; the general symptoms may be slight or absent; the disease is believed to be of malarial origin, and often appears to be excited by the administration of quinine, though this is questionable.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term malarial hemoglobinuria combines two words: malarial and hemoglobinuria.
1. Malarial: The word malarial refers to the disease malaria, which is caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted through mosquitoes. Malaria is an ancient disease, and the term is derived from the Italian word mal'aria, meaning bad air. This term was initially used because people believed that malaria was caused by the foul air in marshy regions.
2. Hemoglobinuria: Hemoglobinuria is composed of two parts: hemoglobin and the suffix -uria. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein found in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. Hemoglobin is derived from the Greek words heme, meaning blood, and globulin, meaning a small globe or a little ball.