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Areeb Alshammari 19207864 Malaria: Epidemiology Malaria is primarily characterized as a parasitic disease that is transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito of the Plasmodiu...

Areeb Alshammari 19207864 Malaria: Epidemiology Malaria is primarily characterized as a parasitic disease that is transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito of the Plasmodium species. It is life-threatening, but preventable and curable. This organism falls within the broader classification of parasites, which are categorized into two groups: Endoparasites: Organisms that live within a host. This includes: ○ Protozoa: Single-celled organisms that reproduce asexually and thrive in aquatic environments. It is single-celled with no cell wall. It cannot produce it’s own food supply, but it can reproduce asexually in humans. However, it is usually transmitted by anthropod vectors such as mosquitos ○ The protozoan group can be further divided into: Sarcodina: Amoebic forms using pseudopodia for movement. Do not have a definite shape. Examples include Amoeba and Entamoeba. Mastigophora: Flagellated protozoans, such as Trichomonas and Trypanosoma. Ciliophora: Organisms with thousands of cilia for movement, like Vorticella. Sporozoa: Non-motile protozoa that include Plasmodium and are responsible for malaria. ○ Helminth: a multicellular parasitic worm that can be seen macroscopically. If they reach their adult form, they cannot multiply in humans Nematode: round worms. Examples: strongyloides Platyhelminth: flatworms Ectoparasites: Parasites that live on the external surface of the host, such as lice and ticks. The Plasmodium genus includes several species that are pathogenic to humans. One of the key features of malaria is it’s ability to infect and destroy RBCs.It’s able to bind to RBCs via it’s apical complex. The following six main types are significant in terms of malaria infections: Plasmodium falciparum: The most severe form, responsible for the majority of malaria-related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. If untreated, can cause severe illness and death within 24hrs. Plasmodium vivax: Most widely geographically distributed. Plasmodium ovale: Similar to P. vivax, but less common. Plasmodium malariae: Same as P. ovale Plasmodium knowlesi: Found in southeast asia, Malaysia, Borneo. The least common type of malaria in humans. All of these Plasmodium species are transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, which play a crucial role in the lifecycle of the malaria parasite.  Areeb Alshammari 19207864 According to the World Health Organization (WHO) World Malaria Report 2023, there were 249 million cases of malaria reported across 85 countries, with a staggering 94% of cases occurring within the African region. Understanding the difference between incidence and prevalence is key to grasping the epidemiological implications of malaria. Incidence: Refers to the number of new cases of malaria that develop in a specific timeframe within a population at risk. Prevalence: Indicates the total number of existing cases of malaria within a population at any given time. In 2022, the death toll for malaria reached 608,000. Of these 608,000 deaths globally, 76% were children