QUESTION Is malaria infectious? ANSWER Yes, malaria is considered an infectious disease, though it is very rarely transmitted directly between people, and virtually all of the time must be transmitted via the bite of a mosquito (of the genus Anopheles). Because part of the life cycle of malaria occurs in red blood cells in the human host, if sufficient amounts of blood are shared … [Read more...]
Other Causes of Malaria
QUESTION Apart from mosquitoe bites, is there any other thing that can cause malaria or if not from mosquitoes, is there any other way someone can get malaria? ANSWER Since the malaria parasites reside and reproduce in the blood, in some cases it is possible to transmit malaria from person to person through transfer of a large volume of blood, for example during a blood transfusion. … [Read more...]
Can Child Be Affected by Mother’s Malaria
QUESTION If the baby's mother has malaria, can it affect the child? ANSWER If the mother is pregnant when she gets malaria, particularly if it is her first pregnancy and particularly if she has never had malaria before, the effects on both the mother and child can be very serious. For the mother, this is because her immune system changes when she gets pregnant. This leaves her more … [Read more...]
Is Malaria Contagious?
QUESTION Is malaria contagious? ANSWER Malaria cannot be transmitted directly between people via normal circumstances, so it is not contagious in the same way flu or the common cold is contagious. It also cannot be sexually transmitted. In most cases, malaria can only be transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito, so unless those mosquitoes are present, it cannot be transmitted. … [Read more...]
Malaria and Pregnancy
QUESTION Can your baby become immune if you're pregnant and you have malaria? ANSWER Some of the protective antibodies that the mother produces when she has malaria can pass to her baby via the placenta. There is also evidence for immune system "priming" in foetuses when their mothers have been infected my malaria during pregnancy. However, these potentially protective effects are usually … [Read more...]
Sexual Transmission of Malaria
QUESTION Can malaria be transmitted by having sex with an infected person? ANSWER No. Malaria cannot be transmitted sexually. It is only present in the blood and in certain organs such as the liver and spleen. As such, it is usually only transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito, though in rare cases, it can be transmitted directly via blood transfusion, organ transplant or via the … [Read more...]
Malaria Causes
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 they … [Read more...]
Sexual Intercourse During Malaria Infection
QUESTION Can one have sexual intercourse during malaria infection? Can malaria be transmitted by sexual intercourse? ANSWER Malaria cannot be transmitted by sexual intercourse. It is usually transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito. Because the parasites infect red blood cells, malaria can also be transmitted via blood transfusion (if the blood is not screened beforehand), … [Read more...]
Is it possible to inherit malaria?
QUESTION I was wondering is it possible for a father who contracted malaria in the Korean War to pass it to his unborn child. ANSWER No. Malaria can only be transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and in rare cases, through infected blood, for example from a blood transfusion or organ transplant. Mothers can transmit malaria to their unborn babies via the placenta or through … [Read more...]
What is malaria, and what causes it?
QUESTION What is malaria and what causes it? 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...]