Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. It is transmitted via the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes and symptoms typically include fever, headache, and in severe cases organ damage or death. While not directly transmissible between humans, infected individuals can pass the parasite to mosquitoes for 1-3 months if left untreated. Prevention strategies focus on vector control like insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying, alongside early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antimalarial drugs.

1. Malaria

2. Definition
Malaria is a mosquito-borne
infectious disease of humans caused by
eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. It is
widespread in tropical and subtropical regions,
including much of Subsaharan Africa, Asia and
the Americas. The disease results from the
multiplication of malaria parasites within
red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically
include fever and headache, in severe cases
progressing to coma, and death.

3. Etiology
Malaria is caused by obligate intracellular
protozoan parasites of the genus
"Plasmodium". The four species of human
malarial parasites are:
 Plasmodium vivax
 P falciparum
 P malariae
 P ovale.

4. Signs and symptoms

5. Signs and symptoms:
 fever
 shivering
 arthralgia (joint pain)
 vomiting, anemia (caused by hemolysis)
 hemoglobinuria
 retinal damage
 convulsions

6. Mode of transmission
Malaria is transmitted by the bite of an
infective female Anopheles mosquito. Rarely,
transmission can be congenital (via the placenta)
or can occur through transfusions or the use of
contaminated needles.

7. Period of communicability
Malaria is not directly communicable from
person to person, except through congenital
transmission; however, during parasitemia, the
disease may be transmitted to other persons
through blood transfusion or through shared,
contaminated needles. Infected human hosts can
be a source of infection for Anopheles
mosquitoes for prolonged periods of time (1-3
or longer, depending on the species of malaria)
if not adequately treated.

8. Susceptibility and resistance
 The role of red blood cell polymorphisms in resistance and susceptibility to
malaria.
 In regions highly endemic for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, red cell
polymorphisms that confer resistance to severe disease are widespread. Sickle
cell trait, alpha-thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency,
and blood groups were determined in 100 children from Gabon with severe
malaria who were matched with 100 children with mild malaria and followed
up for evaluation of reinfections. The sickle cell trait was significantly
associated with mild malaria and blood group A with severe malaria. During
follow-up, the original severe cases had significantly higher rates of
reinfection than the original mild cases, with higher parasitemia and lower
hematocrit values. Incidence rates did not differ in the context of erythrocyte
polymorphisms, but patients with sickle cell trait presented with markedly
lower levels of parasitemia than those without. Thus, the severity of malaria is
partly determined by the presence of blood group A and the sickle cell trait.
The different presentation of reinfections in severe versus mild cases
probably reflects different susceptibility to malaria.

9. Methods of control
 removing or poisoning the breeding grounds of
the mosquitoes or the aquatic habitats of the
larva stages, for example by filling or applying oil
to places with standing water
 Using of bednets
 spraying with DDT .

10. Program for prevention
 The Malaria Research Program of the Research Institute
for Tropical Medicine has provided research activities on
disease epidemiology and immunology, molecular biology of
the parasite, vector behavior, social health research on
treatment patterns and disease perceptions, clinical trials for
anti-malarial drugs and malaria diagnostic kits, anti-malarial
drug resistance and pharmacokinetic studies and community-
based strategies to improve disease control.
 The Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is responsible for
malaria surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, policy and
strategy formulation, technical assistance, and coordination of
WHO's global efforts to fight malaria.

11. Diagnosis
Antigen tests
Tests use finger-stick or venous bloo, the
completed test takes a total of 15-20mins., and
results are read visually as the presence or absence of
colored stripes on the dipstick.
Molecular methods
polymerase chain reaction

12. Prevention and control /treatment
 Early diagnosis and prompt treatment
 Vector control – insecticide-treated
mosquito net as main vector control
strategy, complemented by indoor residual
spraying
 early management and disease surveillance
 monitoring and evaluation – drug and
insecticide resistance monitoring
 Antimalarial drugs