Understanding of Malaria and Its Therapeutic Regimens–The Way Forward.

Aim: Malaria is a very serious deadly disease that has attracted the attention of many researchers all over the world. Because a lot of work has been done in the area of malariology, there is need to understand its advance pattern and therapeutic regimens. Methods: Past and recent literatures on malaria were searched for information on history, global situation, classification, biology, pathology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and control of malaria to assess the progress made so far in the area of malariology. Results: Malaria is an ancient disease recognized by Hippocrates over 2413 years ago, caused by Plasmodium species, first identified by Charles-laveran 123 years ago affect 300–500 millions human worldwide, responsible for 3 deaths in every 30 seconds. The knowledge of classification, biology, pathology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of malaria is a tremendous achievement towards the control of the disease. Conclusion: But complete elimination of malaria perhaps will still take another time, since lots need to be known about the molecular biology of antigenic shift and drift, nature and mechanisms of action of the parasite toxin, in order to have basis for definite vaccine development. By so doing, radical cure and total eradication of malaria can be achieved.

Laveran, Marchiafava y el paludismo / Laveran, Marchiafava and the paludism

El descubrimiento en 1880 del parásito de la malaria por el investigador francés Alphonse Laveran enfrentó por casi diez años la tenaz negación del italiano Ettore Marchiafava, quien veía en los elementos parasitarios sólo formas degenerativas de los eritrocitos. El reconocimiento para Laveran llegó en 1889 con el Premio Breánt y luego el Nobel de 1907, la mitad del cual donó al Instituto Pasteur. Por su parte, Marchiafava demostró la transmisión de la malaria en el hombre por la sangre de los enfermos, en trabajos experimentales hoy día inaceptables para un comité de ética. A partir del texto clásico de Laveran "Du paludisme et de son hématozoaire", publicado en 1891, se revisa la historia de este descubrimiento en las palabras del autor.

The discovery in 1880 of the malaria parasite by the French investigator Alphonse Laveran found for almost ten years the obstinate refusal from the italian Ettore Marchiafava, who saw in the parasitic elements only degenerative forms of the erythrocytes. The acknowledgement for Laveran came in 1889 with the Bréant Prize and later the Nobel of 1907, half of which he gave to the Pasteur Institute. By his side, Marchiafava demonstrated the transmission of malaria man to man by the blood of the sick, through experiences to day inadmissible for any ethical committee. From the classic textbook of Laveran Du paludisme et de son hématozoaire, published in 1891, the history of this discovery is revised in the author's words.