Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Five kinds of malaria parasites cause malaria in humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi. Infection with P. falciparum, if … [Read more...]
The History of Malaria
Malaria or a disease resembling malaria has been noted for more than 4,000 years. From the Italian for "bad air," mal'aria has probably influenced to a great extent human populations and human history. … [Read more...]
Malaria Symptoms and Causes
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. … [Read more...]
Malaria Countries and Map
Geographic Distribution of Malaria Around the World Where malaria is found depends mainly on climatic factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfalls. Malaria is transmitted in tropical and subtropical areas, where: Anopheles mosquitoes can survive and multiply Malaria parasites can complete their growth cycle in the mosquitoes ("extrinsic incubation period"). Temperature is … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention
Malaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures and chemoprophylaxis. Although very efficacious, none of the recommended interventions are 100% effective. Mosquito Avoidance Measures Because of the nocturnal feeding habits of Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk and dawn. Contact with mosquitoes can be reduced by … [Read more...]
Malaria Treatment
Malaria can be a severe, potentially fatal disease (especially when caused by Plasmodium falciparum) and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. Patients who have severe P. falciparum malaria or who cannot take oral medications should be given the treatment by continuous intravenous infusion. Most drugs used in treatment are active against the parasite forms in the blood (the form … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention and Control
Malaria Prevention Prevention of malaria can aim at either: preventing infection, by avoiding bites by parasite-carrying mosquitoes, or preventing disease, by using antimalarial drugs prophylactically. The drugs do not prevent initial infection through a mosquito bite, but they prevent the development of malaria parasites in the blood, which are the forms that cause disease. This type of … [Read more...]
Travel Information
Malaria, a common and life-threatening disease, is a risk in tropical and subtropical areas of over 100 countries. An estimated 30,000 international travelers fall ill with the disease annually. Fever occurring in a traveller one week or more after entering a malaria risk area, and up to 3 months after departure, is a medical emergency that should be investigated urgently. Prompt diagnosis … [Read more...]
Anopheles Mosquitoes
Anopheles Mosquitoes Diagram of Adult Female Mosquito Malaria is transmitted among humans by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Female mosquitoes take blood meals to carry out egg production, and such blood meals are the link between the human and the mosquito hosts in the parasite life cycle. The successful development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito … [Read more...]