OVERVIEW: THE CYCLE OF MALARIA Malaria is a potentially deadly disease and the cycle of infection can take place very quickly. The malaria life cycle is as follows: Infected mosquito bites human Parasite rapidly goes to the liver within 30 minutes The parasite starts reproducing rapidly in the liver, some parasites (from the ovale and vivax species of malaria) lie dormant in the liver, to reactivate and cause diseases often long after the initial infection. This gets into the blood stream, attaches and enters red blood cells. Further reproduction occurs. Infected red blood cells burst, infecting other blood cells This repetitive cycle causes fever and depletes the body of oxygen, caring red blood cells. Additionally, infected red blood cells clog up the circulation in vital organs such as the brain and kidney. As infection progresses, sexual forms of the parasite (gametocycles) are released into the blood stream. When a mosquito bites, it takes up these gametocycles and the cycle of infection is perpetual placing others at risk. THE VICTIM: EVERY 30 SECONDS, A CHILD IS KILLED BY MALARIA. There are 3 principal ways in which malaria can kill young children. An overwhelming acute malarial infection may kill a child directly and quickly after weeks of tortuous symptoms such as constant fever, seizures, and cerebral malaria. An infection during pregnancy can cause low birth weight- a major risk factor for death during the first month of life. Even if the child survives, he or she may be orphaned, as pregnant women are more susceptible to death by malaria despite any earlier resistance she may have had. Repeated malaria infections can create severe anemia in young children, causing them to be more susceptible to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and respiratory infections- both of which are fatal in impoverished areas. Through each of these avenues, malaria has caused at least 20% of all deaths in children under 5 in Africa. Those who do survive may suffer long-term consequences such as learning impairments and disabilities due to brain damage, and limited social interactio nand educational opportunities. THE HOST: ALL IT TAKES IS ONE BITE Malaria is transmitted by a breed of mosquito called the Anopheles. 100 billion of them swarm sub-Saharan Africa each year. Anopheles mosquitoes are picky–they drink only human blood, which vastly increases the chances that theyíll transmit the disease. During the rainy seasons, they descend on the landscape like a haze. Without proper protection, they are nearly impossible to escape. Only the female Anopheles drinks blood, which she needs to nourish her eggs. She is nocturnal, feeding on unsuspecting victims while they sleep, mainly between the hours of 10pm and 4am. A simple bed net, used to cover a sleeping mother and childóoffers one of the most effective preventative measures. The malaria parasite doesnít originate with the mosquito. It must be picked up from an infected human host. Ingested with a blood meal, the parasite moves from the insectís stomach to its salivary glands where it can be passed on to the next person the mosquito bites. The insect is now armed with a lethal payload. THE PARASITE 50,000 Plasmodium Parasites can swim in a pool the size of the period at the end of this sentence. All it takes is one to kill a person. Malaria is caused by a microscopic parasite transmitted by mosquito bite. The most common strain, plasmodium falciparum, is also the deadliest. Especially prevalent in Africa, falciparum accounts for 95% of the 1 million deaths caused by malaria each year. Plasmodium vivax, the second most common strain,is widespread throughout South America, Asia, and Africa. While seldom lethal, it is still debilitating, causing severe, recurring sickness in hundreds of millions of people a year.
Malaria is a potentially deadly disease and the cycle of infection can take place very quickly. The malaria life cycle is as follows:
There are 3 principal ways in which malaria can kill young children.
Through each of these avenues, malaria has caused at least 20% of all deaths in children under 5 in Africa. Those who do survive may suffer long-term consequences such as learning impairments and disabilities due to brain damage, and limited social interactio nand educational opportunities.
Malaria is transmitted by a breed of mosquito called the Anopheles. 100 billion of them swarm sub-Saharan Africa each year. Anopheles mosquitoes are picky–they drink only human blood, which vastly increases the chances that theyíll transmit the disease. During the rainy seasons, they descend on the landscape like a haze. Without proper protection, they are nearly impossible to escape.
Only the female Anopheles drinks blood, which she needs to nourish her eggs. She is nocturnal, feeding on unsuspecting victims while they sleep, mainly between the hours of 10pm and 4am. A simple bed net, used to cover a sleeping mother and childóoffers one of the most effective preventative measures.
The malaria parasite doesnít originate with the mosquito. It must be picked up from an infected human host. Ingested with a blood meal, the parasite moves from the insectís stomach to its salivary glands where it can be passed on to the next person the mosquito bites. The insect is now armed with a lethal payload.
50,000 Plasmodium Parasites can swim in a pool the size of the period at the end of this sentence. All it takes is one to kill a person.
