| | Bites & Stings | Mosquito Bites
Malaria: Caused by Plasmodium Parasites, Not Worms
Malaria is not caused by a worm. It is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi).
Transmission
Via bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Parasites enter bloodstream, infect liver, then red blood cells, causing cyclic fevers.
Key Distinction
- Protozoa: single-celled eukaryotes (malaria, amoebiasis).
- Helminths: multicellular worms (roundworms, tapeworms, flukes).
Correct classification guides treatment: antimalarials (artemisinin-based) vs. antihelminthics (albendazole, praziquantel).
Mosquito Bites - Related Articles
- Mosquito Bites vs. Chickenpox: Key Differences for Identification
- Black Death’s Deadliest City: Cairo Lost 50% of Its Population
- The Black Death in Europe: 9 Transmission Pathways
- DIY Mosquito Repellent: Safe, Effective, and Easy to Make
- Bubonic Plague Symptoms: The Classic Presentation of the Black Death
- Flea Bites: Identification, Treatment, and Home Eradication
- The Black Death in Europe: Causes, Impact, and Mortality