Malaria is caused by
Plasmodium
falciparum,
P. vivax,
P. ovale, as well as
P. malariae. The disease is transmitted through the bite
of the
Anopheles mosquito. Upon transmission of the
Plasmodium parasite to a human by the mosquito, the
parasite invades the liver. Within 2 weeks, an immature form of the
parasite is released into the blood stream where maturation takes
place. Red blood cells that are infected then lyse and cause
symptoms of the disease
1.
The symptoms of malaria can include fever, chills, malaise, achey
and stiff muscles, headache, gastroenteritis and cough. Untreated,
malaria can lead to organ damage, anemia, coma and death.
P.
falciparum or "malignant" malaria usually causes the most
severe cases of disease. In fact, even when managed in intensive
care units, severe
P. falciparum malaria has a mortality
rate of 20%.
2
The World Health Organization estimates that 300-500 million cases
of malaria occur and more than 1 million people die of malaria
yearly. Approximately 90% of these deaths occur in Africa and most
occur in children under five years of age.
3
For more information about malaria, please follow the links
indicated below:
1Levitz, RE. 2003. Infectious Disease Emergencies:
Recognition and Initial Management in the Medical Management of
Infectious Disease. CJ Grace, ed. p. 33. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New
York.
2 Kirkpatrick, BD. 2003. Evaluation of the International
Traveler in Medical Management of Infectious Disease. CJ Grace, ed.
p. 761. . Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York.
3 The World Health Organization.
Fact Sheet No.
94.