Can malaria affect one’s mental fitness?

QUESTION

Can malaria affect ones mental fitness?

ANSWER

Given that malaria is often associated with severe fever and flu-like illness, I would say that is usually enough to prevent someone from feeling completely mentally fit! However, in addition to these general symptoms, there are other specific ways in which malaria can affect a patient’s mind.

With a particular type of malaria, called Plasmodium falciparum (the most common form in Africa and the most deadly worldwide), the disease can sometimes progress to what is called cerebral malaria, where the malaria parasite stick to red blood cells that clog up the tiny red blood cells in the brain. This condition is very serious, and can lead to impaired mental function, loss of consciousness, coma and even death.  Luckily, these effects are usually reversible and there are rarely permanent mental consequences of infection with malaria if treated promptly and effectively.