Malaria is caused by?

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Explanation

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by a single-celled eukaryotic organism known as a protozoan.
The specific causative agent belongs to the genus Plasmodium.
The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
Five species are known to infect humans, with Plasmodium falciparum being the most deadly.

Option A: Viruses are non-cellular infectious agents that replicate inside living cells. They cause diseases like the common cold, influenza, and AIDS, but not malaria.
Option B: Bacteria are single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms. They are responsible for diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, and typhoid fever, not malaria.
Option D: This option is incorrect because the correct causative agent, Protozoa, is listed as one of the choices.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Causative agent of malaria as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Identifying malaria as a protozoal infection is critical for selecting the correct treatment (antimalarial drugs) instead of ineffective antibiotics (for bacteria) or antivirals.
Nursing care for a patient with malaria involves managing the classic symptoms of cyclical fever, chills, and sweats, monitoring for complications like severe anemia and cerebral malaria, and educating the patient and community on preventing mosquito bites (e.g., using bed nets, repellents).
What if? If a patient presents with high fever and chills but the blood smear is negative for malaria, the nurse should anticipate orders for blood cultures to investigate for bacterial sepsis, which can present similarly but requires urgent antibiotic therapy.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for the causative agent of 'Malaria'.
This is a direct recall question based on knowledge of infectious diseases and microbiology.
Recall the classification of common pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
Remember that malaria is a classic example of a disease caused by a protozoan parasite (specifically, from the genus Plasmodium).
Evaluate the options provided: 'Virus' and 'Bacteria' are incorrect classifications for the malaria parasite. 'Protozoa' is the correct classification.
Therefore, select the option 'Protozoa'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QzUgifoDwahFJ2GZsOyaJj

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 395-397

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1801-1803

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 274-276

Practise the full NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.