Malaria is a disease caused by an infection with parasites called Plasmodium. This eMedTV page explains how the disease is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Symptoms and treatment are also discussed.
As explained in this eMedTV article, infection with a parasite from the genus Plasmodium is what causes malaria. Transmission of the disease most commonly involves bites from Anopheles mosquitoes, which may carry the parasite.
The Anopheles mosquito is the only species known to spread malaria. The eMedTV Web page discusses its life cycle in detail, explains how mosquitoes transmit malaria, and measures designed to combat insect biting and control the spread of disease.
In most cases of malaria, transmission occurs through a mosquito bite. This section of the eMedTV library explains how transmission of malaria takes place, including information about the incubation period for the disease.
Typically, the malaria incubation period ranges from 10 days to four weeks in duration. However, as this eMedTV segment explains, this time between infection with malaria parasites and the onset of symptoms may range from seven days to several years.
In cases of malaria, symptoms often include such things as fever, chills, nausea, and diarrhea. This page of the eMedTV Web site discusses both mild and severe symptoms of malaria, which can include kidney failure, coma, and severe anemia.
The best test for malaria diagnosis is called a blood smear. This eMedTV Web page explains how a doctor diagnoses malaria, which also often involves asking the patient questions, performing a physical exam, and ruling out other conditions.
As this eMedTV article explains, treating malaria involves medications such as quinine. This resource identifies medications used for malaria (such as chloroquine and mefloquine) and lists factors that can affect treatment of the disease.
When the disease is treated early enough, there is medication that may be used as to cure malaria. This eMedTV segment identifies medicines that can be used to cure this disease, including chloroquine, mefloquine, and quinine.
As this eMedTV resource explains, malaria's recorded history goes back more than 4,000 years. This article covers the history of the disease, from descriptions of the disease in ancient Chinese texts to efforts to eradicate malaria in the 1900s.
There is not yet a malaria vaccine approved for humans. This eMedTV article examines the challenges inherent in developing an effective vaccine, while explaining the importance of such a vaccine in eventually controlling the disease.
