Signs, Symptoms, and Complications of Malaria
- Fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches are common symptoms
- Severe cases can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death
- Symptoms usually appear 10 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito
- Recurrences of the disease can occur if not properly treated
- Reinfection usually causes milder symptoms in those who have recently survived an infection
- Respiratory distress can occur in severe cases
- HIV coinfection increases mortality
- Kidney failure may occur, leading to blackwater fever
- Cerebral malaria can result in encephalopathy and retinal whitening
- Enlarged spleen, enlarged liver, severe headache, low blood sugar, and haemoglobin in the urine may occur

Cause and Transmission of Malaria
- Malaria is caused by infection with parasites in the Plasmodium genus
- Six species of Plasmodium can infect humans, with P. falciparum and P. vivax being the most common
- P. falciparum is associated with the majority of deaths
- P. vivax can also cause potentially life-threatening conditions
- P. vivax is more common outside Africa
- Malaria is transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes
- Mosquitoes become infected by biting a person who already has malaria
- The parasites, called sporozoites, travel to the liver and multiply
- Infected hepatocytes release merozoites into the bloodstream
- Merozoites invade red blood cells and replicate, spreading the infection

Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria
- Malaria is typically diagnosed through microscopic examination of blood or rapid diagnostic tests
- Polymerase chain reaction methods can detect the parasites' DNA but are not widely used in malaria-endemic areas
- Preventing mosquito bites is crucial in reducing the risk of malaria
- Several medications are available to prevent and treat malaria
- Artemisinin-based combination therapy is the recommended treatment for malaria

Impact and Prevalence of Malaria
- Malaria is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions around the equator
- In 2021, there were 247 million cases of malaria worldwide, resulting in an estimated 619,000 deaths
- 77% of deaths occurred in children under 5 years old
- Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest number of cases and deaths
- Malaria is associated with poverty and has a significant negative impact on economic development, costing Africa $12 billion annually

Prevention and Control of Malaria
- Two malaria vaccines, RTS,S and Malaria vaccine#R21/Matrix-M, are approved for use in children by the WHO
- Methods used to prevent malaria include medications, mosquito elimination, and prevention of mosquito bites
- Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) have significantly contributed to the decrease in malaria cases
- ITNs help reduce infection rates and transmission of malaria
- Indoor residual spraying involves spraying insecticides on the walls inside homes
- Modifying houses can be a sustainable strategy to prevent malaria
- Efforts to decrease mosquito larvae and open water availability can also help control malaria