I.

Disease
MALARIA
II. Description
A serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a
certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. 
III. etiology
Single-celled parasites.

SCRIPT: Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus plasmodium. The
parasite is transmitted to humans most commonly through mosquito bites.

IV. mode of transmission

Transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito.
Potential mode of transmission:
o Transfusion of blood from infected persons
o use of contaminated needles and syringes.
V. Causative agent
Plasmodium particularly the genus plasmodium.
VI. Signs and symptoms
Asymptomatic malaria 

SCRIPT: can be caused by all Plasmodium species.

o Patient has circulating parasites but no symptoms.

Uncomplicated malaria

SCRIPT: can be caused by all Plasmodium species. Symptoms generally occur 7-10 days

after the initial mosquito bite.

o Symptoms are non-specific and can include fever, moderate to severe

shaking chills, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and
anemia, with no clinical or laboratory findings of severe organ dysfunction.
Severe malaria

SCRIPT: caused by infection with Plasmodium falciparum

o Complications include severe anaemia and end-organ damage, including

coma (cerebral malaria), pulmonary complications (for example, oedema
and hyperpnoeic syndrome) and hypoglycaemia or acute kidney injury. 

SCRIPT: Severe malaria is often associated with hyperparasitaemia and is associated

with increased mortality. 

VII. How to treat the disease

SCRIPT: The types of drugs and the length of treatment will vary, depending on:

o Which type of malaria parasite you have

 o The severity of your symptoms
o Your age
o Whether you're pregnant
The most common antimalarial drugs include:
o Chloroquine phosphate.

SCRIPT: Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive
to the drug. But in many parts of the world, parasites are resistant to chloroquine, and
the drug is no longer an effective treatment.

o Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs).

SCRIPT: ACT is a combination of two or more drugs that work against the malaria parasite in different
ways. This is usually the preferred treatment for chloroquine-resistant malaria. Examples include
artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-mefloquine.