Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a life-threatening protozoan infection primarily transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female *Anopheles* mosquito The pathogen targets the hepatic and hematologic systems, where asexual replication within erythrocytes leads to widespread red blood cell destruction and systemic inflammation

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a life-threatening protozoan infection primarily transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female *Anopheles* mosquito While young children, pregnant individuals, and non-immune travelers bear the greatest risk of rapidly progressive, fatal disease, the infection remains a critical global threat across all exposed populations

The pathogen targets the hepatic and hematologic systems, where asexual replication within erythrocytes leads to widespread red blood cell destruction and systemic inflammation Pathophysiologically, mature infected erythrocytes express surface adhesion ligands that promote cytoadherence and vascular sequestration within microcapillary beds, predisposing patients to profound microvascular obstruction, severe anemia, metabolic acidosis, acute respiratory distress, and cerebral malaria