Abstrakt

Malaria and its life-threatening infectious disease; cerebral malaria.

Lieven Lagae

Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease and a major socioeconomic burden in endemic areas in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Plasmodium falciparum infection has been associated with severe complications of the disease, which includes an acute brain form known as cerebral malaria (CM). Even with antimalarial treatment, CM may lead to severe consequences, such as coma and ultimately, death in approximately 20% of cases. CM has also been associated with short and long term cognitive and behavioral impairments.