Question

Malignant tertian malaria is caused by
A) P. vivax
B) P. malariae
C) P. ovale
D) P. falciparum

Answer 1

Hint: It is a single-cell protozoan parasite of humans, and the deadliest Plasmodium species which can cause three types of malaria disease.

Complete Answer:
- Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites contracted by an infected Anopheles mosquito bite.
- The clinical appearance of the disease and its prognosis rely on the species Plasmodium. Malaria has a 7–30 day incubation period and can present with generally nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, fever, and vomiting.
- Medication may be used to cure the condition but can also recur. Malaria is endemic, stating that it happens in a particular region. There are four Plasmodium species which cause various types of human malaria.

Now, let us find the solution from the options-
- P. falciparum alone can cause 3 kinds of malaria and they are quotidian malaria, malignant tertian malaria, and irregular malaria.
- Malignant tertian malaria that recurs every 48 hours, but is exceptionally severe and often deadly.
- Falciparum malaria is much more extreme than other forms of malaria because all red blood cells are infected by the parasite, not just young or old cells, as other forms are.
A patient with malaria of this sort may die within hrs of the first symptoms. The fever is constant.

Thus, the correct answer is option (D) P. falciparum.

Note: Students may get confused between other species of Plasmodium. So students should know about the diseases caused by other species of Plasmodium. P. vivax causes benign tertian malaria in which fever is mild and seldom fatal. P. ovale also causes benign tertian malaria. P. malariae causes quartan malaria which is not very common.