Plasmodium: Understanding Malaria and its Global Health Impact

Plasmodium is a genius of protozoan parasites that infects vertebrates. It is the infectious agent that causes malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by the bite of certain species of mosquito.

Global Impact

• Between 350 and 500 million people are infected yearly with malaria. Because of its effects on developing nations, malaria management is a critical aspect of global health improvement.

Mortality Rate

• The disease kills more than 1 million people every year, particularly young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cases in the United States

• In 2002, 1,337 cases of malaria were reported in the United States. Eight deaths from malaria were recorded. The illness was contracted in malaria-endemic countries in all but five cases.

Clinical Features

• Symptoms frequently include fever and chills as well as headache, muscle and joint pain, malaise, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms can also include splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, neurologic changes, pulmonary dysfunction, renal dysfunction and anemia.

Treatment

• The best treatment available is known as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). As of 2009, there is no effective alternative available.

Prevention

• Insecticide-treated mosquito netting is often used around bedding for night-time prevention of bites from infected mosquitoes. Insecticides can also be used to control the disease vector.