WEEK 7-Lec 1.3

Malaria

A disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.

Plasmodium falciparum

A leading cause of childhood death globally, responsible for the most severe form of malaria.

Sporozoites

The infective stage of the Plasmodium parasite that enters the host's bloodstream through a mosquito bite.

Aneamia

A condition caused by malaria, characterized by a reduction in healthy red blood cells, leading to fatigue and weakness.

Merozoites

The stage of Plasmodium that invades red blood cells after the initial liver stage.

Cytoadhesion

The attachment of malaria-infected red blood cells to the vascular endothelium, which contributes to complications.

Sickle cell anemia

A genetic disorder that causes red blood cells to assume a sickle shape, providing some resistance to malaria.

Thalassemias

A group of inherited blood disorders that can provide some level of resistance to malaria.

Antigenic variation

The process by which malaria parasites change their surface proteins to evade the host's immune system.

Phagocytosis

A non-specific immune response where certain cells engulf and destroy pathogens.

G6PD deficiency

A genetic condition that can confer resistance to malaria by affecting red blood cell metabolism.

Cerebral malaria

A severe complication of malaria associated with changes in mental status and seizures.

Temperature effects

Environmental factors such as temperature that influence malaria transmission and parasite lifecycle.

Pregnancy associated malaria

Increased severity of malaria in pregnant women, posing a higher risk to both mother and child.

Immune evasion mechanisms

Strategies employed by parasites to avoid detection and destruction by the host's immune system.

Vector control

Strategies aimed at reducing or eliminating the organisms that carry malaria, primarily mosquitoes.

Host reservoir

An organism that harbors the parasite and can transmit it to others, contributing to disease spread.

Erythrocyte mutations

Genetic alterations in red blood cells that can provide varying levels of resistance to malaria.

Red blood cell disorders

Conditions affecting red blood cells that can confer some level of resistance to malaria.

Population density

The number of individuals in a specific area, which can influence the spread of malaria.

Global burden of malaria

Describes the significant health impact of malaria worldwide, with millions infected and many fatalities.