Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through mosquito bites. P. falciparum is the most severe and deadly form, while P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. vivax cause milder symptoms. Prevention includes mosquito control, protective clothing, bed nets, and antimalarial drugs. A vaccine is being developed, and education is crucial in fighting the disease.
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protist parasites of the genus Plasmodium. It is carried by mosquitoes and transmitted through their bite. The effects of malaria on affected humans differ according to the Plasmodium species involved. Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe effects of malaria and has the highest mortality rate, while Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium vivax cause milder forms of the disease.
The best known and most typical effects of malaria are chills and fever, which tend to recur cyclically. These cycles occur about every other day in P. vivax and P. ovale infections, but every three days in P. malariae infections. The cycles caused by P. falciparum are a little more frequent than those of the other parasites, and the fever can be continuous. Other possible effects of malaria include vomiting, joint pain, seizures and damage to the retina. Cerebral malaria, in which the infection reaches the brain, can cause brain damage and cognitive impairment, especially in children, who are most susceptible to brain infection. Cerebral malaria is also associated with retinal whitening.
P. falciparum is both the most common form of malaria and the most deadly. It is responsible for more childhood deaths worldwide than any other infectious disease. The effects of P. falciparum-related malaria can include enlarged spleen or liver, restricted blood supply to the brain, hemoglobinuria or the presence of hemoglobin in the urine, severe headache, and abnormally low or low blood sugar. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure, coma and death. It can also cause developmental disorders in children. P. vivax and P. ovale can both cause chronic malaria, in which the patient can relapse months to years after the original infection.
Malaria prevention efforts include controlling the mosquito population, wearing protective clothing or mosquito repellent, and using bed nets. Antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine, primaquine and quinacrine can be used to treat the infection or as a prophylaxis to prevent infection. A vaccine for malaria is currently under development. Education focused on avoiding mosquito bites and controlling mosquito populations, as well as recognizing early signs of malaria infection, is also essential in the fight against the disease.
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