malaria

MalariaImmune System Science Project

Alexandra

The Parasites Behind the DiseaseMalaria is a disease caused by a single cell parasite called plasmodium falciparum. This parasite can be one of four under the umbrella of the plasmodium falciparum. The parasite invades the inhabitant’s red blood cells and begins to damage them. The mosquito infuses an early form of the parasite called sporozoites into the bloodstream, which travel to the liver where they develop into schizonts. This is where it multiplies, becoming merozoites and then reenters the bloodstream. Next it enters red blood cells, damaging them. These parasites can multiple frequently and new ones will invade the body.

The Parasite Behind the Disease (continued)When red blood cells are infected they can stick adhere to capillaries and which eventually slows the blood flow and cuts it off from various organs. Often times, capillaries in the person’s brain are impacted or damaged badly. This is what leads to cerebral malaria which is fatal and almost always kills its the person it dwells in. Cerebral malaria can lead to relapses years after you’ve been diagnosed.

Contagiousness and Transmission

Malaria is not contagious by everyday contact, such as shaking hands, sneezing, or coughing, nor can it be transmitted sexually or by other bodily fluids. It can be transported only by the female anopheles mosquito if they carry one of the four parasites that causes malaria. In 2000 there were almost 23 million cases of malaria around the world, most of which were in Africa. In 2010 there were 26 million cases and it’s likely a large amount of the epidemic affecting Africa. Most travelers who have obtained malaria don’t experience the symptoms until after they’ve returned home.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of malaria include fever, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. These symptoms are usually the first someone would experience before they are officially diagnosed with malaria. The fever someone acquires from malaria is extremely sporadic or temperamental. It may come and go for periods of time and fluctuate frequently. The chills and fever can last four to ten hours and then switch to a fever and headache, then alternating back again. This is crucial because sometimes cerebral malaria can kill it’s victim after as little time as a few hours.

Symptoms (continued)

Profuse sweating isn’t an uncommon result of malaria. Typically, people suffering from malaria don’t start experiencing symptoms until they return home from a foreign country. Effects from malaria are similar to those of other diseases or even common viruses. If you experience symptoms similar to these, or ones that are questionable for a simple flu, you should see a doctor as a precautionary measure because they are easily mistaken for something as simple as the flu. Symptoms of cerebral malaria include convulsions, comas, and severe confusion. A lab test is needed to secure the diagnoses.

Environment

Malaria thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. It can become common in temperate regions, but is not as prominent as tropical or subtropical regions. Malaria is extremely typical in the continent of Africa. Because of it’s ideal climate and large population, Africa is a place most to carry malaria. The anopheles mosquito prospers in the sub saharan atmosphere Africa provides and does well reproducing and laying eggs. Because such a large quantity of Africa’s population is poor, the living and sleeping conditions are poor making the spread of malaria much easier because they are not protected from mosquito bites.

Environment (continued)

Sadly, since so many of Africa’s occupants are malnourished and unhealthy, it’s difficult to cure malaria and their already weak immune systems aren’t able to handle it like someone in the United States would. Although not quite as common as in Africa, malaria is also prevalent in places of South America, Southern Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Many travelers acquire malaria because they contract it after going out of the country. Overall, Malaria is found in over 1000 countries.

Treatments and Remedies

A common, effective treatment for malaria is bark from the cinchona tree. This tree is found in the Andes mountain region and throughout South America. It’s bark is used as treatment for various diseases or issues. In this case, it’s main use is to treat the fevers caused by malaria. A more current drug is known as chloroquine, which is combination of multiple substances to defeat malaria. The goal of any drug or remedy treating malaria, is to kill the parasites infecting the red blood cells. The aim is to restore the level of red blood cells overall. Chloroquine decreases and restrains the painful symptoms of the disease.

Facts and Required Objectives

Discovery:

- Malaria was discovered by Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran in 1880

- He was a French army surgeon from Algeria and received the Nobel Prize in 1907 for bringing recognition to the fatal disease

Parts of the Body Affected:

- After entering your bloodstream, malaria enters your liver which cause damage.


- If the malaria progresses to cerebral malaria, it may harm various organs.

What is Malaria:

- Malaria is not a virus or a bacteria, but a parasite. A single celled parasite is what infects the person’s body which can’t be considered a virus or bacteria.

Does Malaria Have Cells:


Malaria does not have cells, but occurs in the cells of the human body, which is where it multiplies and becomes detrimental.

How Does Malaria Reproduce:

- Malaria reproduces asexually or by going through different stages and transformations while inside the person’s body.

Sources"Malaria | Pathology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2015.

"Malaria." Www.eoearth.org. Ed. Sidney Draggan. N.p., July-Aug. 2008. Web. 18 Dec. 2015.

Person, Stephen. Malaria: Super Killer! New York, NY: Bearport Pub., 2011. Print.