DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Infectious Disease

Malaria

HIGH SEVERITY

Parasitic disease transmitted by infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Caused by Plasmodium species (falciparum, vivax, ovale, malariae, knowlesi). Major public health problem in tropical regions, causing ~600,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5.

Global Affected

247.0M

Countries

109

Symptoms

Fever
Chills
Headache
Muscle aches
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Anemia
Jaundice
Seizures (cerebral malaria)
Coma
Organ failure

Treatment Options

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs)
Chloroquine (sensitive areas)
Primaquine (radical cure)
Tafenoquine (single-dose radical cure)
IV artesunate (severe malaria)
Blood transfusion (severe anemia)
Exchange transfusion (hyperparasitemia)

Risk Factors

1Living in/travel to endemic areas
2No prior immunity
3Pregnancy
4Children under 5
5Sickle cell trait (partial protection)
6Lack of mosquito protection
7Outdoor exposure (dusk to dawn)

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Rapid diagnostic test (RDT)
  • 2Microscopy (thick and thin smears)
  • 3PCR (species identification)
  • 4Serology
  • 5Complete blood count
  • 6Blood glucose (hypoglycemia common)

Prognosis

Excellent with prompt treatment. Cerebral malaria: 10-20% mortality even with treatment. Untreated P. falciparum: fatal. Recurrence common with P. vivax/ovale (hypnozoites in liver).

Prevention

  • Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs)
  • Indoor residual spraying (IRS)
  • Malaria chemoprophylaxis
  • Mosquito repellents
  • Antimalarial vaccines
  • Environmental management
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment
  • Intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp, IPTi, SMC)

Research Status

RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) first malaria vaccine for children. R21/Matrix-M vaccine shows 77% efficacy. Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) standard. Artemisinin resistance spreading in SE Asia. Tafenoquine for radical cure of P. vivax. Gene drive mosquitoes (population suppression). mRNA vaccines in development.

Affected Countries

NigeriaDR CongoUgandaMozambiqueCINEBFMaliTDSSERSODJRWBITGBJLRSLGNGWGMSenegalMRAOCGGAGQCFSTCMEthiopiaKenyaTanzaniaUgandaZambiaZimbabweMalawiNABWSZLSMGMUSCKMIndiaIndonesiaPGMMThailandLAKHVietnamMalaysiaPhilippinesBangladeshLKNPBTChinaYemenSaudi ArabiaUAEOmanSudanEgyptIranPakistanAfghanistanBrazilGYSRGFVenezuelaColombiaEcuadorPeruBOPYPACRNIHNGuatemalaBZMexicoDominican RepublicHaitiJMSVGuatemalaHNNICRPAColombiaVenezuelaGYSRGFEcuadorPeruBOPYArgentinaChileUYBrazil

Sources

  • https://www.cdc.gov
  • https://www.who.int
  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.