Why can cerebral malaria lead to coma or death?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Malaria life cycle — malaria Life cycle of a malaria parasite.

Cerebral malaria is a severe and often fatal complication primarily associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection. The condition leads to coma and death due to the unique pathological behavior of red blood cells infected by this parasite.1

Unlike other malaria species, red blood cells infected with P. falciparum develop a tendency to adhere to the walls of the body's smallest blood vessels, known as capillaries. This adhesion causes significant obstruction of blood flow to vital organs. When this blockage occurs within the capillaries of the brain, it results in cerebral malaria. This complication manifests through symptoms such as confusion, convulsions, and coma, which frequently prove fatal if the patient is not diagnosed and treated promptly.1