Abstract:
Malaria is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is caused by the
protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted by the bite of a female
Anopheles mosquito. Five species of Plasmodium infect humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax,
P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi. Malaria is usually classified as asymptomatic,
uncomplicated or severe. Fever, chills and muscle aches are the first typical symptoms of
malaria. In the most severe cases, the disease can lead to coma or death, especially after
infection with P. falciparum (Phillips et al., 2017).
