Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection spread by Anopheles mosquitoes. The Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria is neither a virus nor a bacteria – it is a single-celled parasite that multiplies in red blood cells of humans as well as in the mosquito intestine.
When the female mosquito feeds on an infected person, male and female forms of the parasite are ingested along with human blood. The male and female forms of the parasite meet and mate in the mosquito’s gut, and the infectious forms are passed onto another human when the mosquito feeds again.
Malaria is a significant global problem. In 2023, there were 263 million cases of the disease worldwide, killing about 597,000 people. Since 2000, deaths from malaria have decreased by 60%. Malaria is prevalent in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central South America, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Oceania (Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya, and the Solomon Islands). In Canada, malaria is most often caused by travel to and from endemic areas. A very small number of cases come from blood transfusions or are transmitted from local mosquitoes that pass the disease on from returning travellers.
Each year, up to 1 million Canadians travel to malaria-endemic areas. This results in 400 to 500 annual cases of malaria in Canada and 1 to 2 deaths per year.
The parasite has progressively developed resistance to many anti-malarial medications, and in several areas of the world, especially Southeast Asia, resistance to all anti-malarial drugs has been reported.
There are 4 species of the Plasmodium parasite that can cause malaria in humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. P. vivax is the most common, and Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous of these parasites; infection with it can kill rapidly (within several days), whereas the other species cause illness but usually not death. Falciparum malaria is particularly frequent in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania.
You can only get malaria if you’re bitten by an infected mosquito or if you receive infected blood from someone during a blood transfusion. Malaria can also be transmitted from parent to fetus during pregnancy.
The mosquitoes that carry Plasmodium parasite get it from biting a person or animal that’s already been infected. The parasite then goes through various changes that enable it to infect the next creature the mosquito bites. Once it’s in you, it multiplies in the liver and changes again, getting ready to infect the next mosquito that bites you. It then enters the bloodstream and invades red blood cells. Eventually, the infected red blood cells burst. This sends the parasites throughout the body and causes symptoms of malaria.
Malaria has been with us long enough to have changed our genes. The reason many people of African descent suffer from the blood disease sickle cell anemia is that the gene that causes it also offers some immunity against malaria. In Africa, people with a sickle cell gene are more likely to survive and have children. The same is true of thalassemia, a hereditary disease found in people of Mediterranean, Asian, or African descent. (See the article on "Anemia" for more information.)
If recognized early, malaria infection can be completely cured. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be treated as an outpatient. The medication chosen by your doctor depends on:
Treatment usually lasts for 3 to 7 days, depending on the medication type. To get rid of the parasite, it’s important to take the medication for the full length of time prescribed – don’t stop taking the medication even if you feel better. If you experience any side effects, your doctor can recommend ways to manage them or may choose to give you a different medication.
For severe cases of malaria caused by P. falciparum, treatment may require intravenous injections. These are only available at designated medical centres and pharmacies operated by the Canadian Malaria Network.
If you’re travelling to a malarial region, you should take a course of preventive treatment. Medications similar to those used to cure malaria can prevent it if taken before, during, and after your trip. It’s vital to take your medication as prescribed, even after you return home.
Before travelling, check with your doctor or travel clinic about the region’s malaria status. Risk of infection also depends on:
Since mosquitoes are night feeders, stay away from danger zones – particularly fields, forests, and swamps – from dusk to dawn to avoid being bitten. Use permethrin-treated mosquito netting when sleeping, and place screens on doors and windows. Using mosquito coils and aerosolized insecticides containing pyrethroids may also help improve protection during this time.
Wear long sleeves and pants, and light-coloured clothing. Put mosquito repellent containing DEET on exposed skin. Use products containing up to 30% DEET for adults and children over 12 years – higher concentrations can have serious side effects, especially in children. Children 12 years old and younger should use products containing 10% DEET or less. Do not apply more than 3 times a day on children 2 to 12 years old. For children aged 6 months to 2 years, apply no more than once a day of a product containing 10% or less of DEET. DEET and sunscreen can be safely worn at the same time. Apply the sunscreen first, wait 20 minutes, and then apply DEET. Be sure to wash your hands after application.
There are several vaccines that are used to prevent malaria (RTS,S and R21), and the World Health Organization recommends the large-scale use of these vaccines for children living in areas with moderate-to-high malaria transmission. These vaccines are not approved in Canada but may be available in endemic countries.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Malaria
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