Neurological disorder and psychosocial aspects of cerebral malaria: what is new on its pathogenesis and complications? A minireview

Folia Parasitol (Praha). 2020 May 27:67:2020.015. doi: 10.14411/fp.2020.015.

Abstract

Recently, malaria is remain considered as the most prevalent infectious disease, affecting the human health globally. High morbidity and mortality worldwide is often allied with cerebral malaria (CM) based disorders of the central nervous system, especially across many tropical and sub-tropical regions. These disorders are characterised by the infection of Plasmodium species, which leads to acute or chronic neurological disorders, even after having active/effective antimalarial drugs. Furthermore, even during the treatment, individual remain sensitive for neurological impairments in the form of decrease blood flow and vascular obstruction in brain including many more other changes. This review briefly explains and update on the epidemiology, burden of disease, pathogenesis and role of CM in neurological disorders with behaviour and function in mouse and human models. Moreover, the social stigma, which plays an important role in neurological disorders and a factor for assessing CM, is also discussed in this review.

Keywords: Antimalarial; Plasmodium; cognitive disability; iRBC; neuropathology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / pathology
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Cerebral* / complications
  • Malaria, Cerebral* / parasitology
  • Malaria, Cerebral* / psychology