What are the key statistics for global malaria over the past decade? ANSWER The World Health Organization's World Malaria Report summarizes global malaria burden, including trends in mortality rates and economic impact. Here are selected figures from the 2011 report. Estimated malaria cases, 2010 Globally: 216 million Africa: 174 million Americas: 1 million Eastern Mediterranean: … [Read more...]
Malaria with Liver and Kidney Problems
QUESTION Can someone please tell me what kind of malaria this is. What part of the body it attacks, e.g., cerebral? Patient presenting with liver and kidney "problems". What could these be? ANSWER I am not sure I fully understand your question, but the type of malaria which is associated with cerebral malaria, and also tends to have the most adverse effects on other organs (such as the … [Read more...]
Malaria in Myanmar (Burma)
QUESTION Is Malaria an issue in Myanmar where I am going in June? ANSWER from Malaria.com Editor YES. Malaria is a risk in all rural areas of the country below 1,000 meters of altitude (anything below 3300 feet). Rangoon/Yangon and Mandalay do not have malaria. You should take medication to prevent malaria (prophylaxis) throughout your stay, and also protect yourself from getting … [Read more...]
Discovery of Malaria
QUESTION Who was the discoverer of malaria? ANSWER Malaria has been known to humans since ancient times, though what exactly caused it and how it was transmitted was not known. The parasite which causes malaria, from the genus Plasmodium, was first observed in the blood of a patient who had died from the disease by Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran, a French physician working in Algeria. … [Read more...]
Life Cycle of Malaria
QUESTION What is the life cycle of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a single celled organism in the genus Plasmodium. Five species of Plasmodium infect humans, but all follow a very similar life cycle, including two separate cycles of asexual reproduction in the human host (one in the liver, called the exo-erythrocytic cycle, and one in the blood, and specifically inside red blood … [Read more...]
Structure and Size of Malaria Mosquito
QUESTION What is the structure and size of the mosquito? ANSWER The mosquitoes that transmit human malaria belong to the genus Anopheles. As such, they follow the general body plan structure of a flying insect—three segments (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings. Anopheles females have modified mouthparts that allow them to feed on blood, by … [Read more...]
Is Malaria Incurable?
QUESTION is malaria incurable? ANSWER No. Malaria can usually be very easily treated, if diagnosed early and if appropriate medication is given promptly. The World Health Organization recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as the first line treatment against uncomplicated malaria; intravenous quinine is usually the first-line recommended treatment for severe, … [Read more...]
Classification of Malaria Parasite
QUESTION What is the classification of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a single celled protist of the genus Plasmodium. This genus is part of a Phylum of single-celled protist organisms called Apicomplexa. The Apicomplexans mostly posses an organ called an apicoplast, which is part of an apical structure designed to aid entry into a host cell. The Apicomplexa is split into two … [Read more...]
Malaria Hosts
QUESTION Which are malaria hosts and how does malaria have an effect on one of them? ANSWER The parasite which causes malaria (called Plasmodium) requires two different hosts—a vertebrate intermediate host, such as a human, and an insect definitive host, also known as the vector. For the types of malaria which infect humans and other mammals, the vector is always a mosquito of the … [Read more...]
Causes of Malaria
QUESTION What are the causes of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and … [Read more...]