Human malaria is caused by a type of parasitic protozoa called Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum is renowned among the several
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Human malaria is caused by a type of parasitic protozoa called Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum is renowned among the several species of malaria parasites for its severe and sometimes lethal consequences. The bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes carrying the infection spread this microscopic bacterium. After entering the body, it proceeds to the liver where it develops and multiplies before entering the bloodstream and infecting red blood cells with the virus. P. falciparum's capacity to elude the human immune system through a mechanism known as antigenic variation is one of its distinguishing characteristics. The surface proteins of infected red blood cells are constantly altered by the parasite, making it more challenging for the immune system to identify and destroy them. Both the intensity of malaria symptoms and the infection's ongoing persistence are influenced by this ongoing adaptation. The symptoms of P. falciparum malaria usually include fever, chills, sweats, headaches, nausea, and body aches. In extreme cases—particularly in young children and pregnant women—the infection can cause complications like organ failure, severe anemia, cerebral malaria, and even death. The parasite's capacity to proliferate quickly in the bloodstream and obstruct blood vessels is frequently what causes the disease's severity. Under a microscope, blood samples are examined to identify the distinctive ring-shaped parasites inside red blood cells, which is how P. falciparum malaria is diagnosed. Antimalarial drugs are typically used as part of treatment; the drug of choice is determined by a number of factors, including the patient's age, the severity of the infection, and the region of the infection (owing to varied patterns of drug resistance). The prevention of P. falciparum malaria involves taking precautions against mosquito bites, such as sleeping under bed nets coated with pesticide, applying insect repellent, and donning long sleeves. Antimalarial drugs may also be recommended to tourists as a prophylactic precaution in areas where the parasite is common. A variety of tactics are used in the fight against P. falciparum malaria, such as the widespread use of bed nets sprayed with insecticides, indoor residual pesticide spraying, early case detection and treatment, and continuous research into novel antimalarial medications and vaccines. Even though the prevalence of P. falciparum malaria has decreased, it is still a serious global health concern, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the bulk of cases and fatalities occur.
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