Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted via the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It affects over 40% of the world's population and remains a major global health problem. The disease is characterized by febrile paroxysms including cold, hot, and sweating stages as the parasites undergo development in the liver and red blood cells. Diagnosis involves microscopic examination of blood smears or rapid antigen tests to detect the parasites. Treatment depends on the Plasmodium species but commonly includes chloroquine, primaquine, quinine, or artemisinin-based combination therapies.
2. INTRODUCTION
• Malaria is a mosquito born-disease caused by plasmodium, which is transmitted
by the bite of infected female anopheles mosquito.
• The term malaria originated from Italian word: mal’
aria – “bad air”.
- Malaria remains the world’s most devastating human parasitic infection.
Malaria affects over 40% of the world’s population. WHO, estimates
that there are 350-500 million cases of malaria worldwide.
- In India 2 million cases & 100 deaths annually.
3. HISTORY
• Malaria is the associated disease have been noted 4000 years ago.
• Malaria may have contributed to the decline of the Roman Empire, and was so pervasive
in Rome that it was known as the “Roman fever”.
• Scientific studies on malaria made their first significant advance in 1880, when Charles
Louis Alphonse Laveran – a French army doctor working In the military hospital of
Constantine in Algeria – observed parasites inside the red blood cells of infected people
for the first time. For this & later discoveries, he was awarded the 1907 Noble prize for
physiology or medicines.
• The first effective treatment for malaria came from the bark of cinchona tree, which
contains quinine.
5. OTHER SYMPTOMS:
• Dry cough.
• Muscle or back pain or both.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Infection of brain or spinal cord.
• Skin may be chills & sweating.
• Nausea & vomiting.
6. PATHOGENESIS
• Incubation period:10-14 days in P.vivax, P.falciparum & P. oval but it 28-30 days in
P.malariae.
• The typical clinical features consists of febrile paroxysm, anemias & splenomegaly.