Classification: ICD-9 084.1; ICD-10 B51.0–B51.9.
Synonyms: Vivax malaria; recurring malaria; tertian malaria; paludism; marsh fever; ague.
Agent: Plasmodium vivax, an intacellular protozoan parasite in the Phylum Apicomplexa.
Reservoir: Humans.
Vector: Female mosquito of the genus Anopheles; mainly bites between dusk and dawn (see Anopheles map).
Transmission: By mosquito bite (Anopheles spp.); transmission has been described in needle sharing IVDUs and blood transfusion.
Cycle: Infective sporozoites are inoculated by bite from anopheles mosquitoes and through the bloodstream and lymphatics reach the liver where they differentiate into tissue schizonts that release merozoites, or to a dormant stage (hypnozoite) that can become active after months or years, causing relapse. Merozoites released from liver mostly infect reticulocytes that develop to schizonts, rupture and release merozoites that will infect new reticulocytes (this cycle takes 48 hours). Gametocytes are able to infect mosquitoes during a blood meal.
Incubation period: 12 days to several months
Clinical findings: Common unspecific symptoms are acute febrile illness with chills, sweats, nausea, headache, and vomiting; high fever with chills is more common in P. vivax than in P. falciparum
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