Immunological aspects of infections part 49

MALARIA

The worldwide incidence of malaria is estimated at 300 million -500 million people, and at least 1 million die each year of the disease, mostly of cerebral malaria and usually young children. Cerebral malaria is usually associated with infection with Plasmodium falciparum and not Plasmodium vivax. Patient react to protozoal infection with activation of macrophages and monocytes with release of cytokines TNF, IL-1, and IL-6. Clinically, they produce fever, leucocytosis, and acute phase reactans.