Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, usually transmitted through bites from infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It can cause recurring fever and chills and may be fatal without timely treatment.

Plasmodium: A genus of parasitic protozoans that infect vertebrates and are transmitted by blood-feeding insects. Species in this genus cause malaria and alternate between human and mosquito hosts.
Plasmodium falciparum: A Plasmodium species that causes the most severe and often fatal form of human malaria. It is the principal cause of severe malaria in many regions.
Malaria diagnosis: The identification of malaria infection using blood tests, microscopy, or rapid diagnostic tests. Confirming infection helps distinguish malaria from other causes of fever.
Sickle-cell trait: The heterozygous inheritance of one normal and one sickle-cell hemoglobin allele, often without sickle-cell disease. It provides partial protection against severe P. falciparum malaria and is common in some endemic regions.
Anopheles: A genus of mosquitoes that includes the primary vectors of human malaria. Infected female mosquitoes transmit Plasmodium parasites when they take a blood meal.
Plasmodium vivax: A Plasmodium species that causes malaria and can persist in the liver as dormant hypnozoites. Its dormant liver forms can trigger relapses months or years after an initial illness.
Antimalarial medication: Medicines used to prevent or treat infection by malaria parasites. Prompt, effective medicines prevent uncomplicated disease from progressing.
Malaria in pregnancy: Malaria infection during pregnancy, which can harm the pregnant person and developing fetus. Pregnancy increases risks such as maternal anemia and low birth weight.
Sporozoite: A motile, infectious stage of Plasmodium that invades the liver after entering a human host. Mosquitoes inject this parasite stage, which begins infection in humans.
Plasmodium malariae: A Plasmodium species that causes a typically chronic form of human malaria. It is one of the distinct human-infecting species with a different clinical pattern.

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