CONTENTS

● INTRODUCTION
● KEY FACTS
● CAUSES
● TRANSMISSION
● PREVENTION
● TREATMENT
● WHO RESPONSE
● CASE STUDY
● BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease affecting humans and other animals, caused
by parasitic single-celled microorganisms belonging to the Plasmodium group. Malaria
causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe
cases, it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death. Symptoms usually begin ten to
fifteen days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. If not properly treated, people may
have recurrences of the disease months later. In those who have recently survived an
infection, reinfection usually causes milder symptoms. This partial resistance disappears
over months to years if the person has no continuing exposure to malaria.
The disease is most commonly transmitted by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The
mosquito bite introduces the parasites from the mosquito's saliva into a person's blood. The
parasites travel to the liver, where they mature and reproduce. Five species of Plasmodium
can infect humans and be spread by mosquitoes. Most deaths are caused by P. falciparum
because P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae generally cause a milder form of malaria. The
species P. knowlesi rarely causes disease in humans. Malaria is typically diagnosed by
microscopic examination of blood using blood films or with antigen-based rapid diagnostic
tests. Methods that use the polymerase chain reaction to detect the parasite's DNA have
been developed but are not widely used in areas where malaria is common due to their cost
and [Link] risk of disease can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites through the
use of mosquito nets and insect repellents, or with mosquito control measures such as
spraying insecticides and draining standing [Link] disease is widespread in tropical and
subtropical regions around the equator, including much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and
Latin America. In 2016, there were 216 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in an
estimated 445,000 to 731,000 deaths. Approximately 90% of both cases and deaths
occurred in Africa. Rates of disease decreased from 2000 to 2015 by 37% but increased
again from 2014, during which there were 198 million cases. Malaria is commonly
associated with poverty and has a major negative effect on economic development. In
Africa, it is estimated to result in losses of US$12 billion a year due to increased healthcare
costs, loss of productivity, and negative effects on tourism.
KEY FACTS
● Malaria is transmitted when a mosquito infected with the Plasmodium parasite bites a
person. The mosquito acts as a carrier of the parasite, meaning when a mosquito
bites a person infected with malaria, there is a high chance that the parasite can be
spread to a healthy individual when the mosquito bites again.
● Did you know that malaria can be caused by four variants of the same parasite?
● Malaria is especially dangerous for pregnant women, as the parasite can pass into
the mother’s womb and infect the foetus. Once the fetus has been infected with
malaria, it can lead to the baby being born with a low birth weight and may even lead
to death.
CAUSES
Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. The parasite can be spread to humans
through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
There are many different types of Plasmodium parasites, but only five types cause malaria in
humans.
These are:
● Plasmodium falciparum – Mainly found in Africa. It is the most common type of
malaria parasite and is responsible for most malaria deaths worldwide.
● Plasmodium vivax – Mainly found in Asia and South America. This parasite causes
milder symptoms than Plasmodium falciparum, but it can stay in the liver for up to
three years, resulting in relapses.
● Plasmodium ovale – Fairly uncommon and usually found in West Africa. It can
remain in the liver for several years without producing symptoms.
● Plasmodium malariae – Quite rare and usually found in Africa.
● Plasmodium knowlesi – Very rare and found in parts of Southeast Asia.
TRANSMISSION
The Plasmodium parasite is spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are known as
“night-biting” mosquitoes because they most commonly bite between dusk and dawn.
If a mosquito bites a person already infected with malaria, it can also become infected and
spread the parasite to other people. However, malaria cannot be spread directly from person
to person.
Once bitten, the parasite enters the bloodstream and travels to the liver. The infection
develops in the liver before re-entering the bloodstream and invading red blood cells.
The parasites grow and multiply in red blood cells. At regular intervals, the infected blood
cells burst, releasing more parasites into the blood. This usually happens every 48–72
hours. Each time this occurs, the person experiences fever, chills, and sweating.
Malaria can also be spread through blood transfusions and the sharing of needles, but this is
very rare.
PREVENTION
There’s a significant risk of getting malaria if you travel to an affected area. It’s very
important that you take precautions to prevent the disease.
Malaria can often be avoided using the ABCD approach to prevention, which stands for:
● Awareness of risk – find out whether you’re at risk of getting malaria.
● Bite prevention – avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent, covering your arms
and legs, and using a mosquito net.
● Check whether you need to take malaria prevention tablets – if you do, make
sure you take the right antimalarial tablets at the right dose, and finish the course.
● Diagnosis – seek immediate medical advice if you have malaria symptoms,
including up to a year after you return from travelling.
These are outlined in more detail below.
Being aware of the risks
To check whether you need to take preventative malaria treatment for the countries you’re
visiting, see the Fit for Travel website.
It’s also important to visit your GP or local travel clinic for malaria advice as soon as you
know where you’re going to be travelling.
Even if you grew up in a country where malaria is common, you still need to take precautions
to protect yourself from infection if you’re travelling to a risk area.
Nobody has complete immunity to malaria, and any level of natural protection you may have
had is quickly lost when you move out of a risk area.
Preventing bites
It’s not possible to avoid mosquito bites completely, but the less you’re bitten, the less likely
you are to get malaria.
To avoid being bitten:
● Stay somewhere that has effective air conditioning and screening on doors and
windows. If this isn’t possible, make sure doors and windows close properly.
● If you’re not sleeping in an air-conditioned room, sleep under an intact mosquito net
that’s been treated with insecticide
 ● Use insect repellent on your skin and in sleeping environments. Remember to
reapply it frequently. The most effective repellents contain diethyltoluamide (DEET)
and are available in sprays, roll-ons, sticks, and creams.
● Wear light, loose-fitting trousers rather than shorts, and wear shirts with long sleeves.
This is particularly important during early evenings and at night, when mosquitoes
prefer to feed.
There’s no evidence to suggest homeopathic remedies, electronic buzzers, vitamins B1 or
B12, garlic, yeast extract spread (such as Marmite), tea tree oils, or bath oils offer any
protection against mosquito bites.
Antimalarial tablets
There’s currently no vaccine available that offers protection against malaria, so it’s very
important to take antimalarial medication to reduce your chances of getting the disease.
However, antimalarials only reduce your risk of infection by about 90%, so taking steps to
avoid bites is also important.
When taking antimalarial medication:
● Make sure you get the right antimalarial tablets before you go — check with your GP
or pharmacist if you’re unsure.
● Follow the instructions included with your tablets carefully.
● Depending on the type you’re taking, continue to take your tablets for up to four
weeks after returning from your trip to cover the incubation period of the disease.
Check with your GP to make sure you’re prescribed a medication you can tolerate. You may
be more at risk from side effects if you:
● Have HIV or AIDS
● Have epilepsy or any type of seizure condition
● Are depressed or have another mental health condition
● Have heart, liver, or kidney problems
● Take medicine, such as warfarin, to prevent blood clots
● Use combined hormonal contraception, such as the contraceptive pill or
contraceptive patches
If you’ve taken antimalarial medication in the past, don’t assume it’s suitable for future trips.
The antimalarial you need to take depends on which strain of malaria is carried by the
mosquitoes and whether they’re resistant to certain types of antimalarial medication.
In the UK, chloroquine and proguanil can be bought over the counter from local pharmacies.
However, you should seek medical advice before buying them, as they’re rarely
recommended nowadays. For all other antimalarial tablets, you’ll need a prescription from
your GP.
Read more about antimalarial medication, including the main types and when to take them.
Get immediate medical advice
You must seek medical help straight away if you become ill while travelling in an area where
malaria is found, or after returning from travelling, even if you’ve been taking antimalarial
tablets.
Malaria can get worse very quickly, so it’s important that it’s diagnosed and treated as soon
as possible.
If you develop symptoms of malaria while still taking antimalarial tablets, either while you’re
travelling or in the days and weeks after you return, remember to tell the doctor which type
you have been taking. The same type of antimalarial should not be used to treat you as well.
If you develop symptoms after returning home, visit your GP or a hospital doctor and tell
them which countries you’ve travelled to in the last 12 months, including any brief stopovers.
DEET insect repellents
The chemical DEET is often used in insect repellents. It’s not recommended for babies who
are less than two months old.
DEET is safe for older children, adults, and pregnant women if you follow the manufacturer’s
instructions:
● Use on exposed skin
● Don’t spray directly onto your face — spray into your hands and pat onto your face
● Avoid contact with lips and eyes
● Wash your hands after applying
● Don’t apply to broken or irritated skin
● Make sure you apply DEET after applying sunscreen, not before
TREATMENT
Malaria is treated with antimalarial medications; the ones used depend on the type and
severity of the disease. While medications against fever are commonly used, their effects on
outcomes are not clear.
Simple or uncomplicated malaria may be treated with oral medications. The most effective
treatment for P. falciparum infection is the use of artemisinins in combination with other
antimalarials (known as artemisinin-combination therapy, or ACT), which decreases
resistance to any single drug component. These additional antimalarials include
amodiaquine, lumefantrine, mefloquine, or sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. Another
recommended combination is dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine. ACT is about 90%
effective when used to treat uncomplicated malaria.
To treat malaria during pregnancy, the WHO recommends the use of quinine plus
clindamycin early in pregnancy (first trimester), and ACT in later stages (second and third
trimesters). In the 2000s, malaria with partial resistance to artemisinins emerged in
Southeast Asia. Infection with P. vivax, P. ovale, or P. malariae usually does not require
hospitalization. Treatment of P. vivax requires both treatment of blood stages (with
chloroquine or ACT) and clearance of liver forms with primaquine. Treatment with
tafenoquine prevents relapses after confirmed P. vivax malaria.
Severe and complicated malaria is almost always caused by infection with P. falciparum.
The other species usually cause only febrile disease. Severe and complicated malaria is a
medical emergency since mortality rates are high (10% to 50%). Cerebral malaria is the form
of severe and complicated malaria with the worst neurological symptoms.
The recommended treatment for severe malaria is the intravenous use of antimalarial drugs.
For severe malaria, parenteral artesunate has been shown to be superior to quinine in both
children and adults. In another systematic review, artemisinin derivatives (artemether and
arteether) were found to be as efficacious as quinine in the treatment of cerebral malaria in
children.
Treatment of severe malaria involves supportive measures that are best carried out in a
critical care unit. This includes the management of high fevers and seizures that may result
from it. It also includes monitoring for poor breathing effort, low blood sugar, and low blood
potassium.
WHO RESPONSE
The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030, adopted by the World Health
Assembly in May 2015, provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries. It
is intended to guide and support regional and country programmes as they work towards
malaria control and elimination.
The strategy sets ambitious but achievable global targets, including:
● Reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90% by 2030
● Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030
● Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030
● Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free
This strategy was the result of an extensive consultative process that spanned two years
and involved the participation of more than 400 technical experts from 70 Member States. It
is based on three key pillars:
● Ensuring universal access to malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
● Accelerating efforts towards elimination and attainment of malaria-free status
● Transforming malaria surveillance into a core intervention
The WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) coordinates WHO’s global efforts to control
and eliminate malaria by:
● Setting, communicating, and promoting the adoption of evidence-based norms,
standards, policies, technical strategies, and guidelines
● Keeping an independent score of global progress
● Developing approaches for capacity building, systems strengthening, and
surveillance
● Identifying threats to malaria control and elimination, as well as new areas for action
GMP is supported and advised by the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC), a group
of 15 global malaria experts appointed following an open nomination process. The MPAC,
which meets twice yearly, provides independent advice to WHO to develop policy
recommendations for the control and elimination of malaria. The mandate of MPAC is to
provide strategic advice and technical input and extends to all aspects of malaria control and
elimination as part of a transparent, responsive, and credible policy-setting process.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I am able to make this project and collect the information from the following resources:
● NCERT Biology Textbook, Class XII
● Our Biology Teacher: [Link]
● [Link]
● KIMS Bhubaneswar