Plasmodium falciparum
Quick Summary
Plasmodium falciparum is a single-celled parasite that causes malaria in humans. It is the deadliest of the Plasmodium species responsible for malaria. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.123
Once inside the human body, the parasite travels to the liver, where it matures and multiplies. It then enters the bloodstream, infecting red blood cells and destroying them. This destruction of red blood cells leads to common malaria symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.21
P. falciparum infections are particularly dangerous, often leading to severe illness, coma, and death if not treated promptly. This is because P. falciparum infects a large proportion of red blood cells and can cause them to stick to blood vessel walls, obstructing blood flow, especially in the brain, a condition known as cerebral malaria. Some strains of P. falciparum have also developed resistance to antimalarial drugs, posing a significant challenge to treatment.24
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