QUESTION I would like to know how dangerous is malaria in the brain? ANSWER Only a certain kind of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, is usually associated with causing problems in the brain. The P. falciparum parasite infects red blood cells and changes their surface structure, causing them to become "sticky". These sticky red blood cells become lodged in the small blood vessels that flow … [Read more...]
Why is Malaria Dangerous?
QUESTION How does Malaria become so dangerous? ANSWER Malaria in humans can be caused by a number of different parasites - the most dangerous, and the one which is responsible for over 90% of the worldwide deaths from malaria, is Plasmodium falciparum. The reason that P. falciparum is so dangerous is because it affects the behaviour of red blood cells. Red blood cells that are infected … [Read more...]
Causes of Malaria
QUESTION What is malaria usually caused by? 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...]
How Does One Contract Malaria?
QUESTION How to get 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 must have … [Read more...]
Is it Common to Die of Malaria?
QUESTION is it common to die of malaria? Why? Why not? ANSWER Thankfully, these days it is not very common to die from malaria. Out of an estimated 250 million cases of malaria around the world every year, there are only about 700,000 fatalities. However, 700,000 deaths every year is still a lot! If left undiagnosed and untreated, malaria can progress very rapidly and be a very … [Read more...]
What is Malaria?
QUESTION what is 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 must have been … [Read more...]
Malaria and the Brain
QUESTION How long does it take malaria to reach your brain? ANSWER The process by which malaria affects the brain is complicated, and the amount of time also varies. First of all, only one species of malaria parasite is associated with the brain - this is Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria. It is dangerous because when it infects red blood cells, it makes them … [Read more...]
Deadliest Malaria Parasite
QUESTION which malarial parasite is deadliest for humans, and why? ANSWER By far the most deadly malaria parasite is Plasmodium falciparum, as it is responsible for >95% of all malaria deaths every year. Most of these fatalities occur in young children in sub-Saharan Africa. The causes for why P. falciparum is so deadly are still not fully understood. This parasite has the ability … [Read more...]
Irregular Quotidian Fever
QUESTION Why quotidian fever is irregular? ANSWER Actually, the fever cycles associated with all types of malaria can be irregular. This is particular true in the initial stages of the fever, when the merozoites (the form of the parasite that leaves the liver to infect red blood cells) from different infection broods mature at different rates. Over a few cycles of reproduction, the … [Read more...]
What are the Symptoms of Malaria?
QUESTION What are malaria symptoms? ANSWER Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Symptoms usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the … [Read more...]