Question

How is malaria different from a typical flu which is also an infectious disease?

Answer 1

Malaria is the most dreaded fever especially during monsoons. It is caused by parasites from the plasmodium family namely- p. falciparum, p. vivax, p. ovale and p. malariae. Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous among the four as it often leads to death. Malarial infection in humans is caused when a female anopheline mosquito transfers plasmodial sporozoites (a form of the malarial parasite) from its salivary gland during a bite. This parasite passes through a series of changes in its form. It first invades the liver cells. Liver cells die bursting and release parasites which have multiplied inside and are now ready to invade new RBCs (red blood corpuscles). In the RBCs, they consume most of the hemoglobin and grow larger in size to occupy most of the cell. During a fever spike, the RBCs breakdown to release the parasites in large numbers; they are again taken up by mosquitoes during a bite. The parasite undergoes further transformation and travels to the salivary gland; it stays there to get transferred to another person during the next mosquito bite.

Answer 2

Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It’s typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

Once the parasites are inside your body, they travel to the liver, where they mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and begin to infect red blood cells. Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. Learn more about mosquitoes and treating mosquito bites.