Malaria

Malaria terms

1. Anemia (a-NEE-mee-a) A condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.
2. Anopheles A genus of mosquito, some species of which can transmit human malaria.
3. Anorexia An abnormal loss of the appetite for food. Anorexia can be caused by cancer, AIDS, a mental disorder (i.e., anorexia nervosa), or other diseases.
4. Anthropophilic Describes mosquitoes that prefer to take blood meals from humans.
5. Antibiotic A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. Atrial Fibrillation: A heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) that usually…
6. Antibody (AN-tee-BAH-dee) A type of protein made by plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in response to an antigen (foreign substance).
7. Antigen A substance that causes the immune system to make a specific immune response.
8. Antimicrobial agents The drugs, chemicals, or other substances that kill or slow the growth of microbes.
9. Antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance is the result of microbes changing in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents to…
10. Aralen A brand name for chloroquine phosphate.
11. Artemisinins A class of drugs used for the treatment (not prevention) of malaria usually as a part of a combination therapy, derived from the sweet wormwood or Qinghao…
12. Atovaquone A drug used against malaria. It is found in the combination atovaquone-proguanil which can be used for both prevention and treatment.
13. Autochthonous Regarding malaria, it refers to local transmission by mosquitoes. This can either be indigenous (a geographic area where malaria occurs regularly) or…
14. B-cell (B-lymphocyte) White blood cells of the immune system that are derived from the bone marrow and spleen. B cells develop into plasma cells, which produce antibodies.
15. Bacteria (bak-TEER-ee-uh) A large group of single-cell microorganisms. Some cause infections and disease in animals and humans.
16. Carbamate A chemical product used as an insecticide.
17. Cerebral malaria A severemalaria syndrome in which infected red blood cells obstruct blood circulation in the small blood vessels in the brain and/or release cytokines…
18. Chemoprophylaxis The use of antimalarial drugs to prevent malaria disease.
19. Chloroquine A drug used against malaria for both prevention and treatment. A very safe and inexpensive drug, its value has been compromised by the emergence of…
20. Cinchonism Side effects from quinine or quinidine. Includes tinnitus, headache, nausea, diarrhea, altered auditory acuity, and blurred vision.
21. Clindamycin An antibiotic that can be used for the treatment of malaria in combination with a second drug, usually quinine or quinidine.
22. Clinical cure Elimination of malaria symptoms, sometimes without eliminating all parasites. See "radical cure" and "suppressive cure/treatment."
23. Coma (KOH-muh) A condition in which a patient is in a state of deep sleep and cannot be awakened.
24. Congenital malaria Malaria in a newborn or infant, transmitted from the mother.
25. Cryptic malaria A case of malaria where epidemiologic investigations fail to identify an apparent mode of acquisition (this term applies mainly to cases found in…
26. DEET N,N-diethylmetatoluamide, an ingredient of insect repellents.
27. Defervescence The reduction of a patient's abnormally elevated temperature into the normal range.
28. Deltamethrin An insecticide.
29. Diurnal During the daytime.
30. Doxycycline An antibiotic drug used to treat infection.
31. Drug resistance The failure of cancer cells, viruses, or bacteria to respond to a drug used to kill or weaken them.
32. dyspnea Difficult, painful breathing or shortness of breath.
33. Efficacy Effectiveness. In medicine, the ability of an intervention (for example, a drug or surgery) to produce the desired beneficial effect.
34. Elimination In the context of malaria, reducing all local transmission down to zero cases within a defined geographic location.
35. Endemic Where disease occurs on a consistent basis.
36. Endophagic An endophagic mosquito is a mosquito that feeds indoors.
37. Endophilic An endophilic mosquito is a mosquito that tends to inhabit/rest indoors. Endophilism facilitates the blocking of malaria transmission through application…
38. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (ELISA) This laboratory test is now often used to determine whether mosquito salivary glands are positive for sporozoites.
39. Epidemic A disease that occurs clearly in excess of normal expectation and spreads rapidly through a demographic segment of the human population.
40. Epidemiology (EH-pih-dee-mee-AH-loh-jee) The study of the patterns, causes, and control of disease in groups of people.
41. Eradication In the context of malaria, reducing the number of malaria parasites that circulate in the natural world to zero.
42. Erythrocyte (eh-RITH-roh-site) A cell that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Also called RBC and red blood cell.
43. Erythrocytic stage A stage in the life cycle of the malaria parasite found in the red blood cells. Erythrocytic stage parasites cause the symptoms of malaria.
44. Etiology (EE-tee-AH-loh-jee) The cause or origin of disease.
45. Exoerythrocytic stage A stage in the life cycle of the malaria parasite found in liver cells (hepatocytes). Exoerythrocytic stage parasites do not cause symptoms.
46. Exophagic An exophagic mosquito is a mosquito that feeds outdoors.
47. Exophilic An exophilic mosquito tends to inhabit/rest outdoors. Residual insecticides in buildings are less effective at controlling exophilic mosquitoes.
48. Falciparum See Plasmodium.
49. Fansidar Brand name of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, a drug used against malaria. Its value has been compromised by the emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites.
50. G6PD deficiency An inherited abnormality that causes the loss of a red blood cell enzyme. People who are G6PD deficient should not take the antimalarial drug primaquine.
51. Gametocyte The sexual stage of malaria parasites. Male gametocytes (microgametocytes) and female gametocytes (macrogametocytes) are inside red blood cells in the…
52. Gene The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information for making a…
53. Genetic diversity The variety of different types of genes in a species or population.
54. Halofantrine A drug used against malaria in some countries, but not recommended by CDC.
55. Hematocrit The amount of blood consisting of red blood cells, measured as a percentage.
56. Hematologic Having to do with the blood.
57. hemoglobin (HEE-moh-GLOH-bin) The substance inside red blood cells that binds to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to the tissues.
58. Hemolysis Destruction of red blood cells. Malaria causes hemolysis when the parasites rupture the red blood cells in which they have grown.
59. Hepatocytes Liver cells.
60. Hepatomegaly Enlarged liver.
61. Hypnozoite Dormant form of malaria parasites found in liver cells. Hypnozoites occur only with Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale.
62. Hypoglycemia Abnormally low blood sugar.
63. Icterus See jaundice.
64. immune system (ih-MYOON SIS-tem) The complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infections and other diseases.
65. Immunity (ih-MYOO-nih-tee) The condition of being protected against an infectious disease.
66. immunization A technique used to cause an immune response that results in resistance to a specific disease, especially an infectious disease.
67. Imported malaria Malaria acquired outside a specific geographic area.
68. Incubation period The interval of time between infection by a microorganism and the onset of the illness or the first symptoms of the illness.
69. Indigenous malaria Mosquito-borne transmission of malaria in a geographic area where malaria occurs regularly.
70. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) (IRS) Treatment of houses where people spend night-time hours, by spraying insecticides that have residual efficacy (i.e.
71. Induced malaria Malaria acquired through artificial means (e.g. blood transfusion, shared needles or syringes, or malariotherapy).
72. Infection Invasion and multiplication of germs in the body. Infections can occur in any part of the body and can spread throughout the body.
73. Introduced malaria Mosquito-borne transmission of malaria from an imported case in a geographic area where malaria does not occur regularly.
74. Jaundice (JAWN-dis) A condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become yellow, urine darkens, and the color of stool becomes lighter than normal.
75. Knowlesi See Plasmodium.
76. Lariam Brand name of mefloquine, a drug used against malaria for both prevention and treatment.
77. Larvae An immature stage of a developing mosquito. Mosquito larvae are wingless and develop in water.
78. Leukocyte (LOO-koh-site) A white blood cell. Refers to a blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin.
79. Leukocytosis Increase in total white blood cell count.
80. Leukopenia (LOO-koh-PEE-nee-uh) A condition in which the number of leukocytes (white blood cells) in the blood is reduced.
81. Lymphocyte (LIM-foh-site) A type of white blood cell. Lymphocytes have a number of roles in the immune system, including the production of antibodies and other…
82. Macrogametocyte The female form of the gametocyte.
83. Malariae See Plasmodium.
84. Malarone Brand name of atovaquone-proguanil, a drug used against malaria for both prevention and treatment.
85. Mefloquine A drug used against malaria for both prevention and treatment.
86. Merozoite A daughter cell formed by asexual development in the life cycle of malaria parasites.
87. Microgametocyte The male form of the gametocyte.
88. Molecular methods Laboratory techniques that are based on identification and characterization of certain molecules and gene sequences of a pathogen's genetic makeup.
89. Monocyte A type of white blood cell.
90. Oocyst A stage in the life cyle of malaria parasites, oocysts are rounded structures located in the outer wall of the stomach of mosquitoes.
91. Ovale See Plasmodium.
92. parasite An animal or plant that gets nutrients by living on or in an organism of another species.
93. Parasitemia The presence of parasites in the blood. The term can also be used to express the quantity of parasites in the blood (e.g., "a parasitemia of 2%").
94. Paroxysm A sudden attack or increase in intensity of a symptom, usually occurring in intervals.
95. Pathogen Bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi can cause disease.
96. Permethrin A pyrethroid insecticide.
97. Phagocyte An immune system cell that can surround and kill microorganisms and remove dead cells. Phagocytes include macrophages.
98. Plasmodium The genus of the parasite that causes malaria. The genus includes many species.
99. Platelets Small, irregularly-shaped bodies in the blood that contain granules. These cells are important components of the blood coagulation (clotting) system.
100. Polymorphic Literally meaning having more than one form. In terms of genes it means that there are several variants (alleles) of a particular gene that occur…