Definition:- Malaria is a disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genes Plasmodium. The four species of Plasmodium that are capable of infecting humans are P.malariae, P. vivax, P.falciparum and P.ovale. The parasites are transmitted to humans by the female mosquitoes (Anopheles). The ensuing illness is generally characterized by paroxysms of fever and chills, anemia and splenomegaly. P.falciparum is the species associated with cerebral malaria.

History:- The disease affected prehistoric humans and fossil mosquitoes have been found in geological strata 30 million years old. It was finally named by the Italians in the 18th century mal aria meaning foul air but the reference to periodic fever are found in early Hindu and Chinese writings. The first major breakthrough in understanding the etiology of the disease was in 1880 when Laveran, a French Army Surgeon in Algeria first described gametocytes of P.falciparum in the fresh blood of malarial patients. The transmission through mosquitoes was shown by Ronald Ross a British Army Surgeon in India. With the description of the pre erythrocytic forms in liver cells by Shortt the complete cycle was established.