What are the 5 Types of Malaria?

A Closer Look at the Four Malaria-Causing Parasites

Mosquitoes buzzing around us are not just annoying little insects but are also carriers of a deadly parasite that causes malaria. Anopheles female mosquitoes, in particular, that thrive in hot and humid tropical regions and breed in stagnant puddles of water, are the major transmitters of malaria-causing parasites.

The Plasmodium parasite, as it is called, is widespread in different variants that range from causing minor fever to chronic brain damage.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the different variants of malaria, their extent of threat, and commonly occurring symptoms.

Understanding the Different Types of Malaria

The Plasmodium parasite is the predominant cause of malaria in humans, which is carried by its vector, recognised as the Anopheles female mosquito. There are a total of 5 variants of this parasite, out of which only 4 are known to affect humankind.

The following are the variants of malaria that are widespread among humans:

1.  Plasmodium vivax

This variant of malaria is widely common among the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South Asia. It does not pose a direct life-threatening risk to affected individuals but is a major illness and must be treated at the earliest. One-third of malaria cases are of this kind, and its commonly occurring symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, chills, fatigue, and headache.

2.  Plasmodium Falciparum

The Plasmodium falciparum variant of malaria is the deadliest of the four mentioned, as it is the leading cause of death and organ damage across the tropical regions of Africa, South Asia, and South America.

Its symptoms include nausea, seizures, vomiting, headache, chills, sweating, etc., and if ignored for long, it can turn into severe symptoms like cerebral malaria, brain and nervous system damage, convulsions, paralysis, etc.

Therefore, early recognition of symptoms and prompt diagnosis are of utmost importance.

3.  Plasmodium ovale

Out of the listed four types of malaria parasites, this variant is rarely found all over the world. Most of its cases occur in parts of Africa, like Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, etc. After entering the body of a healthy individual via a mosquito bite, it can stay in the host’s body for years.

The persistence of this parasite variant in the human body leaves scope for its recurrence after a few years. Symptoms of Plasmodium ovale include chills in the body, nausea and vomiting, fever and high body temperature, anaemia, etc.

4.  Plasmodium malariae

Not as common as the others, this variant of the malaria parasite is transmitted in tropical regions of the world. While it often causes a milder acute illness, it has two unique and serious characteristics:

• It can cause a chronic, low-grade infection that can persist undetected for decades.
• In some chronic cases, it can lead to nephrotic syndrome (a serious kidney disease) due to immune complex deposition in the kidneys.

5.  Plasmodium knowlesi

Plasmodium knowlesi is widespread among macaques. Although it can be transmitted from monkeys to humans via mosquito bites, it is not as prevalent as the above-mentioned variants of malaria.

Treatment And Medication For Malaria

Here is an overview of the treatment process and medication for malaria:

• The treatment for malaria begins with the diagnosis of the disease, which includes a blood test that indicates the presence and variant of the Plasmodium parasite in the human blood.
• After the confirmation of its presence, medicated drugs are prescribed, considering the age and immunity of the patient.
• Post-diagnosis, doctors usually prescribe chloroquine phosphate and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to people suffering from different variants of malaria.
• ACT is a combination of two or more drugs to eliminate the parasite causing malaria, and its effects tend to vary across individuals.

Self-medication is dangerous. A proper diagnosis is essential to identify the malaria species and ensure the correct treatment is used. Incorrect treatment can lead to treatment failure, severe illness, drug side effects, and contribute to drug resistance.