BT and MT Malaria

QUESTION:

What is MT and BT malaria?

ANSWER:

“MT” stands for “malignant tertian” and “BT” stands for “benign tertian” malaria. Tertian malaria describes fever which occurs every other day, in cycles. Of the main types of human malaria, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale are the most stereotypically tertian. P. falciparum can be tertian, but it is more erratic and due to its severity, can result in increased frequency of fever. “Malignant” and “benign” refers to the severity of the disease. Malignant malaria is severe and sometimes fatal, whereas benign malaria is less acute and rarely results in death.