Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite called Plasmodium that is spread through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasite invades and destroys red blood cells, causing symptoms like fever, chills, and headaches. In severe cases of cerebral malaria, the parasite can cause brain damage or death. While most common in Africa due to climate and living conditions, malaria is also found in parts of Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Treatment focuses on killing the parasite, usually through antimalarial drugs like chloroquine.

1. Malaria
Immune System Science Project
Alexandra

2. The Parasites Behind the Disease
Malaria is a disease caused by a single cell parasite called plasmodium
falciparum. This parasite can be one of four under the umbrella of the
plasmodium falciparum. The parasite invades the inhabitant’s red blood cells and
begins to damage them. The mosquito infuses an early form of the parasite
called sporozoites into the bloodstream, which travel to the liver where they
develop into schizonts. This is where it multiplies, becoming merozoites and then
reenters the bloodstream. Next it enters red blood cells, damaging them. These
parasites can multiple frequently and new ones will invade the body.

3. The Parasite Behind the Disease (continued)
When red blood cells are infected they can stick adhere to capillaries and which
eventually slows the blood flow and cuts it off from various organs. Often times,
capillaries in the person’s brain are impacted or damaged badly. This is what
leads to cerebral malaria which is fatal and almost always kills its the person it
dwells in. Cerebral malaria can lead to relapses years after you’ve been
diagnosed.

4. Contagiousness and Transmission
Malaria is not contagious by everyday contact, such as shaking hands, sneezing,
or coughing, nor can it be transmitted sexually or by other bodily fluids. It can be
transported only by the female anopheles mosquito if they carry one of the four
parasites that causes malaria. In 2000 there were almost 23 million cases of
malaria around the world, most of which were in Africa. In 2010 there were 26
million cases and it’s likely a large amount of the epidemic affecting Africa. Most
travelers who have obtained malaria don’t experience the symptoms until after
they’ve returned home.

5. Symptoms
The most common symptoms of malaria include fever, headaches, muscle aches,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. These symptoms are usually
the first someone would experience before they are officially diagnosed with
malaria. The fever someone acquires from malaria is extremely sporadic or
temperamental. It may come and go for periods of time and fluctuate frequently.
The chills and fever can last four to ten hours and then switch to a fever and
headache, then alternating back again. This is crucial because sometimes
cerebral malaria can kill it’s victim after as little time as a few hours.

6. Symptoms (continued)
Profuse sweating isn’t an uncommon result of malaria. Typically, people suffering
from malaria don’t start experiencing symptoms until they return home from a
foreign country. Effects from malaria are similar to those of other diseases or
even common viruses. If you experience symptoms similar to these, or ones that
are questionable for a simple flu, you should see a doctor as a precautionary
measure because they are easily mistaken for something as simple as the flu.
Symptoms of cerebral malaria include convulsions, comas, and severe confusion.
A lab test is needed to secure the diagnoses.

7. Environment
Malaria thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. It can become common in
temperate regions, but is not as prominent as tropical or subtropical regions.
Malaria is extremely typical in the continent of Africa. Because of it’s ideal
climate and large population, Africa is a place most to carry malaria. The
anopheles mosquito prospers in the sub saharan atmosphere Africa provides and
does well reproducing and laying eggs. Because such a large quantity of Africa’s
population is poor, the living and sleeping conditions are poor making the spread
of malaria much easier because they are not protected from mosquito bites.

8. Environment (continued)
Sadly, since so many of Africa’s occupants are malnourished and unhealthy, it’s
difficult to cure malaria and their already weak immune systems aren’t able to
handle it like someone in the United States would. Although not quite as
common as in Africa, malaria is also prevalent in places of South America,
Southern Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Many travelers acquire malaria
because they contract it after going out of the country. Overall, Malaria is found
in over 1000 countries.

9. Treatments and Remedies
A common, effective treatment for malaria is bark from the cinchona tree. This
tree is found in the Andes mountain region and throughout South America. It’s
bark is used as treatment for various diseases or issues. In this case, it’s main
use is to treat the fevers caused by malaria. A more current drug is known as
chloroquine, which is combination of multiple substances to defeat malaria. The
goal of any drug or remedy treating malaria, is to kill the parasites infecting the
red blood cells. The aim is to restore the level of red blood cells overall.
Chloroquine decreases and restrains the painful symptoms of the disease.

10. Facts and Required Objectives
Discovery:
- Malaria was discovered by Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran in 1880
- He was a French army surgeon from Algeria and received the Nobel Prize in
1907 for bringing recognition to the fatal disease
Parts of the Body Affected:
- After entering your bloodstream, malaria enters your liver which cause damage.

11. Facts and Required Objectives
- If the malaria progresses to cerebral malaria, it may harm various organs.
What is Malaria:
- Malaria is not a virus or a bacteria, but a parasite. A single celled parasite is
what infects the person’s body which can’t be considered a virus or bacteria.
Does Malaria Have Cells:

12. Facts and Required Objectives
Malaria does not have cells, but occurs in the cells of the human body, which is
where it multiplies and becomes detrimental.
How Does Malaria Reproduce:
- Malaria reproduces asexually or by going through different stages and
transformations while inside the person’s body.

13. Sources
"Malaria | Pathology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2015.
"Malaria." Www.eoearth.org. Ed. Sidney Draggan. N.p., July-Aug. 2008. Web. 18 Dec. 2015.
Person, Stephen. Malaria: Super Killer! New York, NY: Bearport Pub., 2011. Print.