Types of Malaria

Contrary to what you may read on the internet there are just two types of malaria disease. It is often said that there are four different types of malaria but this is not the case. There are four different plasmodium malaria parasites that cause malaria but each of these will only cause the victim to suffer from one of the two types of malaria which are called malignant malaria and benign malaria.

On this page we will discuss the two types of malaria and also the four different plasmodium malaria parasites that are responsible for causing them. We will also provide some information on how each of the parasites are treated if caught.

Here are definitions of the two different types of malaria:

Malignant malaria - This is the most serious type of malaria and will cause the victim to suffer symptoms within three months of transmission. The symptoms can be both mild and severe. This type of malaria is caused by the Plasmodium Falciparum malaria parasite.

Benign malaria - This is a more mild strain of malaria and can have a dormant stage of up to a year and even beyond in some cases before symptoms become apparent. It is also possible for the parasite to stay in the liver and cause relapses of the malaria disease. This type of malaria is caused by the Plasmodium Vivax, Plasmodium Ovale and Plasmodium Malariae malaria parasites.

The 4 Plasmodium malaria parasites responsible for causing malaria are called:

Plasmodium Falciparum malaria parasite

Responsible for causing malignant Malaria, the most severe strains and the most deaths.
Plasmodium Vivax malaria parasite - Responsible for causing benign Malaria which is less severe, however it can stay dormant in your liver for years and lead to relapses of the Malaria disease.

Plasmodium Ovale malaria parasite

This parasite is responsible for causing benign Malaria and can remain in the body for years without producing the symptoms of Malaria.

Plasmodium Malariae malaria parasite

This is the rarest of the malaria parasites but when it is contracted it can cause benign Malaria.

We have a dedicated page to the treatment of malaria however here is some more specific information on the treatment of each the different types of malaria parasite.

Treating the Plasmodium Falciparum malaria parasite - The normal treatment for the infection from the plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite is to take quinine directly into the bloodstream. Once the condition of the victim has stabilised it is possible to continue treatment via the intake of tablets. It is vital that the victim is monitored and treated for any possible complications such as jaundice and anemia.

Treating the Plasmodium Vivax, Plasmodium Ovale and Plasmodium Malariae malaria parasites - Regular treatment for these malaria parasites which is benign malaria will be a course of chloroquine tablets. However if you are suffering from benign malaria caused by the Plasmodium Vivax or Plasmodium Ovale parasites then you will require a more long term course of treatment in order to prevent the disease returning. This is because these malaria parasites are able to lay dormant in the liver and subsequently cause problems later on. In this case the normal drug used is primaquine. However primaquine is NOT suitable for women who are pregnant.

Any complications for either of the types of malaria will require time, or further time, spent in hospital with drugs being administered via an intravenous drip to treat the infection being caused by th malaria parasites.

We hope that this page has been useful in providing you with some definitive information on the types of malaria that it is possible to contract when travelling to a malaria hotspot.