Table of Contents
What is the meaning of the term malaria?
1a : a human disease that is caused by sporozoan parasites (genus Plasmodium) in the red blood cells, is transmitted by the bite of anopheline mosquitoes, and is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever. b : any of various diseases of birds and mammals caused by blood protozoans.
How did malaria get its name?
The name malaria derived from mal aria (‘bad air’ in Medieval Italian). This idea came from the Ancient Romans who thought that this disease came from pestilential fumes in the swamps.
How do you read malaria test results?
A normal test is negative, meaning that you don’t have any Plasmodium parasites in your blood. A positive result means that you have the parasites in your blood and that you may have malaria.
Does malaria mean bad air?
Here’re two words for you: Malaria literally means “bad air.” Miasma was a word we once used for air that carries diseases like malaria. A miasma was air, usually night air, tainted with poison.
Is malaria a virus bacteria or fungi?
Q: Is malaria caused by a virus or bacteria? A: Malaria is not caused by a virus or bacteria. Malaria is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium, which is normally spread through infected mosquitoes. A mosquito takes a blood meal from an infected human, taking in Plasmodia which are in the blood.
Is malaria pandemic or epidemic?
HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria shouldn’t be labeled as “just” epidemics or endemic. They are pandemics that have been beaten in rich countries.
Who invented malaria?
Alphonse Laveran, a military doctor in France’s Service de Santé des Armées (Health Service of the Armed Forces). The military hospital in Constantine (Algeria), where Laveran discovered the malaria parasite in 1880.
What happens if malaria test is positive?
If your results were positive, your health care provider will prescribe medicine to treat the disease. The type of medicine will depend on your age, how serious your malaria symptoms are, and whether you are pregnant. When treated early, most cases of malaria can be cured.