Malaria (or malaria) is a disease which can be fatal, due to parasites. Parasites of the genus Plasmodium are transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquitoes, which usually bite at night.

The disease is mainly found in tropical regions of Africa and Southeast Asia. But it can also be found in many countries, such as Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, Turkey, Pakistan, India and several Asian countries such as China. .

There are four types of human malaria. The two most common are the Plasmodium falciparum (the deadliest) and the Plasmodium vivax. We also find the Plasmodium malariae and Oval plasnmodium.

Malaria can be cured. With proper treatment, the parasites can be completely eliminated from the affected person’s body. The parasite types, P. vivax and P. ovale have stages of the parasite that can remain in the liver without causing symptoms. If not treated with the right treatment, the right dosage, these stages can be reactivated and cause the disease to relapse, even after several months or years. The P. malariae type can also remain in the blood for decades if left untreated.

In recent years, monkey malaria (Plasmodium knowles) has been recorded in humans in some forests in Southeast Asia.

Malaria transmission

Anopheles mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person with malaria. The small amount of blood they collect contains parasites. These mix with their saliva and are in turn injected into the next person they bite.

In the human body, the parasites reach the liver and can remain dormant there for several days, up to several months (depending on the parasite in question). When the parasites are mature, they attack the blood cells. This is when people with malaria experience symptoms of malaria.

Since the parasite is present in blood cells, malaria can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion, the organ transplant or sharing of contaminated syringes. Malaria can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her child, before or during birth.

Diagnostic

To ensure the presence of malaria, a diagnostic test can be performed. A drop of blood analyzed under a microscope identifies the presence of the parasite.

Rapid diagnostic tests, in the form of test strips, detect specific antigens produced by malaria parasites and present in the blood. These tests are typically used in the field by travelers or small organizations to quickly and effectively assess populations affected by the disease.

Prevalence

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO)¹ dating from 2011, there were almost 216 million episodes of malaria in 2010, of which 81% in Africa and 13% in Southeast Asia.

In 2010, deaths associated with malaria were estimated at 655, of which 000% were in various parts of Africa and mostly children under 91 years old.

According to the WHO, since 2000, mortality rates attributable to malaria have fallen by more than 25% worldwide and 30% in Africa. This progress has been made possible thanks to measures aimed at combating and preventing malaria in the regions affected by the disease: the large-scale use of mosquito nets, improved diagnostic tools and better availability of antimalarial drugs.

Since 2008, April 25 was declared World Malaria Day to raise awareness of the global effort needed to effectively fight this disease.

Complications

Most cases of malaria-related mortality are due to the consequences of complications of the disease; it is estimated that 90% of malaria deaths occur in Africa, especially in children under 5 years old.

• Brain damage (cerebral malaria): when blood cells infected with the parasite reach the brain, causing delirium, unconsciousness, coma or death.
• Pulmonary edema : a buildup of fluid in the lungs which can cause serious breathing problems.
• Organ failure such as kidney or liver, or ruptured spleen which can cause death.
• Severe anemia caused by the destruction of infected red blood cells.
• Drop in blood sugar: due to certain severe forms of the disease which can cause coma or death.
• Recurrence of episodes: Certain strains of the malaria parasite, which usually cause milder forms of the disease, can persist in the body for years and cause relapses.