Unit 12: Diseases & Infection
C: Understand how infectious diseases can be treated and managed
Malaria
The bite of an infected anopheles mosquito is how malaria is usually transmitted. It is a life-
threatening disease. The liver, in the human body is where the parasites travel to. Over the
course of a few days, red blood cells are infected after the mature parasites enter the
bloodstream. The parasites which are located in the red blood cells start to multiply within 2
– 3 days, which then causes the infected cells to burst. Symptoms will the start to occur in
repetitive cycles as the parasites continue to infect red blood cells. This lasts for about 2 – 3
days at a time. Hotter and subtropical climates is where malaria is found; and this is where
the parasites can live. The would health organisation reported that there was a staggering 220
million cases of malaria is over 90 countries.
The world health organisation (who) is calling on worldwide health committees and countries
to come together and stop this treatable and preventable disease. However, it will not be an
easy fight; there are several limiting factors, and there are many gaps in the tools needed to
combat this disease. Africa, in particular, which is a high burden country has seen the fight
against malaria plateau.
If a mosquito infected with the plasmodium parasite bites you, malaria can occur.
Plasmodium vivax, p. Ovale, p. Malariae, and p. Falciparum are the four types of malaria
parasites than can infect humans. Those who come into contact with the P.falciparum have a
much higher risk of death as it causes a severe form of the initial disease. Because malaria is
transmitted by blood, it can also be transmitted by factors such as a transfusion, sharing the
same syringes and needles collectively, and an organ transplant.
Lifecycle of malaria
The vector mosquitos and the vertebrate hosts are the two living beings where the life cycle
of the malaria parasite occurs. An infected female anopheles mosquito injects sporozoites
into the skin while feeding. The sporozoites then enter the blood stream where they are then
carried to the liver, in the liver they infect liver cells. In the liver cells, the parasite develop
into schizonts. The schizonts burst which then release thousands of individual merozoites into
the bloodstream.
The merozoites then infect red blood cells, and then some parasites change into female and
males forms called gametocytes. When the mosquito feeds, the gametocytes are then ingested
into the stomach where they then emerge from the infected blood cells becoming gametes.
C: Understand how infectious diseases can be treated and managed
Malaria
The bite of an infected anopheles mosquito is how malaria is usually transmitted. It is a life-
threatening disease. The liver, in the human body is where the parasites travel to. Over the
course of a few days, red blood cells are infected after the mature parasites enter the
bloodstream. The parasites which are located in the red blood cells start to multiply within 2
– 3 days, which then causes the infected cells to burst. Symptoms will the start to occur in
repetitive cycles as the parasites continue to infect red blood cells. This lasts for about 2 – 3
days at a time. Hotter and subtropical climates is where malaria is found; and this is where
the parasites can live. The would health organisation reported that there was a staggering 220
million cases of malaria is over 90 countries.
The world health organisation (who) is calling on worldwide health committees and countries
to come together and stop this treatable and preventable disease. However, it will not be an
easy fight; there are several limiting factors, and there are many gaps in the tools needed to
combat this disease. Africa, in particular, which is a high burden country has seen the fight
against malaria plateau.
If a mosquito infected with the plasmodium parasite bites you, malaria can occur.
Plasmodium vivax, p. Ovale, p. Malariae, and p. Falciparum are the four types of malaria
parasites than can infect humans. Those who come into contact with the P.falciparum have a
much higher risk of death as it causes a severe form of the initial disease. Because malaria is
transmitted by blood, it can also be transmitted by factors such as a transfusion, sharing the
same syringes and needles collectively, and an organ transplant.
Lifecycle of malaria
The vector mosquitos and the vertebrate hosts are the two living beings where the life cycle
of the malaria parasite occurs. An infected female anopheles mosquito injects sporozoites
into the skin while feeding. The sporozoites then enter the blood stream where they are then
carried to the liver, in the liver they infect liver cells. In the liver cells, the parasite develop
into schizonts. The schizonts burst which then release thousands of individual merozoites into
the bloodstream.
The merozoites then infect red blood cells, and then some parasites change into female and
males forms called gametocytes. When the mosquito feeds, the gametocytes are then ingested
into the stomach where they then emerge from the infected blood cells becoming gametes.
