10/12/2025
Malaria is a serious infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
Malaria is caused by five main Plasmodium species:
1. P. falciparum — most severe, common in Africa
2. P. vivax — recurring infections, common in Asia & Latin America
3. P. ovale
4. P. malariae
5. P. knowlesi (zoonotic, from monkeys)
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 10–15 days after a mosquito bite:
1. Fever and chills
2. Headache
3. Sweating
4. Body aches
5. Fatigue
6. Nausea/vomiting
In severe cases: confusion, seizures, severe anemia, organ failure
How malaria spreads
1. Primarily through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
2. Less commonly: blood transfusion, shared needles, or mother to baby in pregnancy
Diagnosis
1. Blood tests (microscopy or rapid diagnostic tests)
2. PCR tests in some cases
Treatment
Depends on the Plasmodium species and severity:
1. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) — first-line for most cases
2. Chloroquine (only where parasites are still sensitive)
3. Primaquine for dormant liver stages (P. vivax and P. ovale)
4. Severe malaria often requires IV artesunate in a hospital.
Prevention
* Mosquito nets (especially insecticide-treated)
* Indoor residual spraying
* Antimalarial prophylaxis (e.g., atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline) for travelers
* Eliminating mosquito breeding sites
* New vaccines: RTS,S (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M
