Plasmodium is a genus of parasites that cause malaria and have a complex life cycle involving both mosquito and mammalian hosts. Malaria has been recognized since ancient times, and while there are medications available to treat it, preventative measures such as bed nets and prophylactic drugs are also important.
Plasmodium is a genus of parasites with over 200 known species, some of which are known to cause malaria. About 10 species of Plasmodium can cause disease in humans. These parasites are native to the tropics and subtropics of the world and are among the most studied parasites in the world, thanks to the significant risks posed by malaria infection worldwide.
These organisms are protists, single-celled organisms without differentiated tissue structures. Protists can be found in aquatic environments around the world, and many have developed complex community relationships such as that seen with Plasmodium. This particular protist has a life cycle that includes spending time inside the bodies of both mosquito and mammalian hosts. Treatment for malaria focuses on disrupting this life cycle by limiting mosquito populations, stopping mosquitoes from biting people, or stopping the organisms from reproducing inside the human body.
Malaria has been recognized and described in human populations since at least 5,000 BC, when Chinese physicians debated sets of symptoms modern physicians recognize as malaria. There are different forms of malaria, thanks to the fact that different Plasmodium species can cause the disease. Earlier generations of doctors thought malaria was caused by “bad air,” when in fact it is the result of being bitten by an infected Anopheles mosquito.
The life cycle of Plasmodium parasites is complex. When they enter a mosquito’s body, the parasites reproduce in the mosquito’s gut. Each time the mosquito bites, it releases parasites into the victim’s bloodstream. The parasites make their way into the liver where they multiply and then re-enter the bloodstream, attacking red blood cells and causing symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue and weakness. Left untreated, some cases of malaria can be fatal because the infection can cause significant organ and brain damage.
There are medications available to treat malaria. Physicians began using quinine in the 1600s, and today a broad spectrum of antimalarial drugs are available, although some are very expensive. Understanding how the disease is incubated and transmitted has led to a number of preventative measures including the use of bed nets and sprays to prevent people from being bitten along with prophylactic drugs designed to kill any Plasmodium species that manage to enter the body. People traveling to the tropics are strongly encouraged to visit a doctor before going to get malaria prophylaxis and tips on how to prevent malaria infection.
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