Introduction to

Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are
transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles
mosquitoes. The parasites multiply in the liver and then infect red blood
cells.

by Emmanuel Owaseye
Causes and Transmission of Malaria
Mosquito Vector Parasite Human-to-Human
Transmission Transmission
Malaria is primarily spread
through the bites of infected When the infected mosquito In rare cases, Malaria can also
female Anopheles mosquitoes. bites a human, the parasites be transmitted from a mother
These mosquitoes bite are released into the to her unborn baby during
primarily between dusk and bloodstream and travel to the pregnancy and delivery.
dawn. liver.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Malaria
1 Fever 2 Chills and Sweats 3 Headache and
The hallmark symptom of Severe shaking chills,
Muscle Pain
Malaria is a high fever accompanied by profuse Malaria can cause
that comes in paroxysms, sweating, can occur as moderate to severe
meaning it comes and the fever begins to headache and muscle
goes at regular intervals. subside. pain, particularly in the
back and legs.
Prevention and Control Measures for
Malaria

800K 90%
Lives Saved Annually Reduction in Malaria Cases
Using insecticide-treated mosquito nets Indoor residual spraying can reduce cases of
contributes to saving around 800,000 lives per malaria by approximately 90% over 3 to 6
year. months.
Available Treatments for Malaria
Artemisinin-based combination therapies Quinine
(ACTs)

Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) Chloroquine (for sensitive infections)

Global Impact and Statistics on
Malaria
High Burden Global Cases
Malaria is most prevalent in sub- There were an estimated 229 million
Saharan Africa, where it is a major cases of malaria worldwide in 2019.
cause of morbidity and mortality.
Challenges in Combating
Malaria
Mosquito Resistance
1 Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides used in bed nets and
indoor spraying, making malaria control more challenging.

Antimalarial Resistance
2 There have been cases of parasites developing resistance to antimalarial
medicines, posing a threat to treatment efforts.

Health Systems Strengthening

3 Strengthening health systems to improve access to healthcare and diagnostic
tools remains a significant challenge in many affected regions.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
1 Progress in Research
Ongoing research aims to develop new, more effective drugs and vaccines
for the prevention and treatment of Malaria.

2 Collaborative Efforts
International collaborations and partnerships are crucial to addressing the
challenges posed by Malaria on a global scale.

3 Public Health Advocacy

Advocacy and awareness campaigns play a vital role in mobilizing resources
and promoting preventive measures to reduce the burden of Malaria.