What is Malaria, anyway?
Malaria is caused by four different species of a parasite called Plasmodium. These are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae. Plasmodium falciparum is frequently fatal if untreated. Malaria due to the other three species may cause high fever up to 106, but they are seldom fatal. However, some patients suffer relapse. The parasite is injected during the bite of the female anopheline mosquito. Patients with malaria have no symptoms during the incubation phase in the liver. Later there are fever, chills, sweats and often vomiting or diarrhea.
