Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a parasitic disease due to infection with Plasmodium falciparum, as identified in the source material ^[1]. The available records focus more on resistance biology and prevention than on a full narrative description of the disease entity, so source-backed detail on incubation period, case definition, or natural history is not yet available ^[1][3]. The disease is also cited in relation to endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma, where malaria co-infection is described as part of the linked etiology in children ^[2].

The supplied sources do not provide a direct clinical syndrome description for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and source-backed detail on fever pattern, organ involvement, severity manifestations, or complications is not yet available ^[1][3]. One prevention-related source refers to severe malaria as an outcome used in vaccine evaluation, but it does not define the clinical criteria for severity ^[3]. Another source associates P. falciparum malaria with modulation of viral persistence and reduced Epstein-Barr virus immunosurveillance in children in the context of endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma, but this is an associated disease context rather than a primary symptom profile ^[2].

The sources place a major prevention emphasis on regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission, and WHO recommendation of the RTS,S vaccine is specifically described for children from age 5 months in those settings ^[3]. One source also identifies endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma as the most prevalent pediatric cancer in sub-Saharan Africa and links its etiology to EBV and P. falciparum malaria co-infection, indicating important epidemiologic relevance in that region ^[2]. Beyond these points, source-backed detail on overall incidence, seasonality, reservoir, or outbreak patterns is not yet available from the provided snippets ^[1][3][2].

The supplied sources do not explicitly describe the transmission route of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, so source-backed detail on vector, exposure mechanism, or person-to-person spread is not yet available ^[1][3][2]. The available material instead concentrates on antimalarial resistance and on vaccine use in settings with moderate to high transmission ^[1][3].

The clearest risk group stated in the sources is children from age 5 months in regions with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission, for whom WHO recommended RTS,S vaccination ^[3]. The literature also indicates children in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma and malaria co-infection ^[2]. Other high-risk groups are not specifically identified in the supplied sources, so further source-backed detail is not yet available ^[1][3][2].

Prevention in the provided material centers on malaria vaccination and resistance control. WHO recommended the RTS,S malaria vaccine in October 2021 for children from age 5 months in regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission, and the source frames this recommendation as being based on phase 3 trials in seven African countries and an ongoing implementation programme in three African countries ^[3]. Another source emphasizes that controlling the spread of antimalarial resistance, especially to artemisinin and partner drugs, is a top priority and notes the need for new antimalarial agents with novel modes of action ^[1].

In surveillance terms, the supplied evidence suggests that P. falciparum malaria should be interpreted through two linked lenses: transmission intensity and resistance monitoring ^[1][3]. The vaccine-related source highlights use in moderate to high transmission areas, while the resistance source identifies PfCRT, PfMDR1, and K13 as important molecular markers discussed in relation to drug resistance ^[1][3]. Source-backed detail on routine case surveillance indicators, laboratory confirmation, or reporting thresholds is not yet available from the snippets ^[1][3].

1. 1 Wicht KJ et al. Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 2020 Sep 8. PMID: 32905757. doi: 10.1146/annurev-micro-020518-115546. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32905757/
2. 2 Rochford R et al. Burkitt's Lymphoma. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2015. PMID: 26424650. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22822-8_11. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26424650/
3. 3 Björkman A et al. RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine-proven safe and effective? Lancet Infect Dis. 2023 Aug. PMID: 37086747. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00126-3. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37086747/
4. 4 Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 1989. doi: 10.1097/00001432-198910000-00002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00001432-198910000-00002
5. 5 Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1982. doi: 10.1172/jci110627. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1172/jci110627
6. 6 Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1971. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1971.20.655. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1971.20.655

ICD-10

B50

ICD-11

1F40

Total cases

0

Peak month

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Coverage

0 reporting countries · —