Medical Microbiology Protozoa

The transmission, prophylaxis and treatment of malaria

Topic overview

Start with the big picture

Malaria is transmitted mainly when an infected female Anopheles mosquito injects sporozoites. These travel to the liver, where they multiply before releasing merozoites that infect red blood cells and cause symptoms. Transmission can also occur through transfusion, shared needles, or from mother to child. Prevention combines measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets and repellents with chemoprophylaxis selected according to local chloroquine resistance and individual factors, including G6PD status. Treatment varies with severity and species: uncomplicated infections have different options from severe malaria, for which intravenous artesunate is preferred. P. vivax and P. ovale can form dormant liver stages, so preventing relapse requires additional consideration. Monitoring for treatment-related complications is also part of managing severe cases.

Learning objectives

What you'll learn

  • Describe the main and less common routes of malaria transmission.
  • Outline the progression from sporozoite entry to symptomatic blood-stage infection.
  • Relate prophylaxis choices to drug resistance, pregnancy, and G6PD status.
  • Distinguish treatment approaches for uncomplicated and severe malaria.
  • Identify monitoring concerns and the rationale for radical cure in P. vivax and P. ovale.
Ready for the complete lesson?

Continue your study

Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.

PharmaProLearn

Excel Beyond Limits