MALARIA

PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM

• The scientific name of malaria is plasmodium falciparum.
• Caused from a parasite, spread through the biting of infected mosquitos.
• Symptoms usually begin 10-15 days after infection.

BEGINNING OF MALARIA

• No exact answer for when and where it started
• First accounts of diseases similar to malaria date back to the Egyptians around 1550 B.C.
• Derives from Italian word "mal'aria" or "bad air" referring to marshes and swamps

TRANSMISSION

• Transmitted through bites of infected mosquitos
• The parasite infects the mosquito, which infects the human

SYMPTOMS

• Common symptoms include fever, headache, and flu-like symptoms
• In extreme cases, malaria can lead to impaired function of brain and spinal chord

MOST AFFECTED

• Most deaths are from Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Children under 5 most affected due to weaker immune systems
• "over 80% of deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five."(ibtimes.co.uk).

TREATMENTS

• Multiple drugs are available to attack the parasite forms in the blood
• Other drugs attack dormant parasites to prevent relapses
• Can be treated well if detected early
• Some don't receive treatment due to the impoverished areas of Sub-Saharan Africa
• "P. falciparum malaria, has a 20% mortality rate even if treated."(medicinenet.com)

PREVENTION

• In 2001, Mosquirix was released
• "Mosquirix, however, falls short, demonstrating only 50 percent effectiveness for children aged 5 months to 17 months."(usnews.com)
• New version of the vaccine was released in July
• Received good feedback from doctors worldwide

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WORKS CITED

• Kaplan, Ezra F. "Safe, Effective Malaria Vaccine Develoed." US News. N.p., n.d. Web.
• Thompson, E. Gregory, MD. "Who Is Affected by Malaria Infection." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.
• Balentine, Jerry R., MD. "Malaria Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What Is the Prognosis of Malaria? - MedicineNet." MedicineNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.