Infectious DiseasePending review

Malaria

A mosquito-borne protozoal infection of red blood cells whose species (above all, whether it is Plasmodium falciparum) determines how rapidly it can become life-threatening.

In a nutshell

P. falciparum infects red cells of any age and causes them to sequester in small vessels, producing high parasitaemia and microvascular obstruction that drives cerebral malaria, renal failure and multi-organ failure. P. vivax and P. ovale form dormant hypnozoites that can cause relapse long after apparent cure.

Classic presentation

Fever, rigors, headache and myalgia in a patient with recent travel to or residence in an endemic area, with splenomegaly on examination.

Key points

Only P. falciparum causes rapid, life-threatening severe disease through high parasitaemia and microvascular sequestration.

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Educational content pending clinical review. Not medical advice.