Cerebral malaria is a medical condition characterized by the blockage of small blood vessels in the brain by blood cells containing parasites. This condition can lead to severe complications and, in some cases, may result in brain damage.
It is caused by the parasite P. falciparum. It is one of the five species of the Plasmodium (P.) parasite that causes malaria. When a falciparum infection is severe, it affects the central nervous system of the patient. It can lead to changes in the patient’s mental state and even coma. In some cases the severe infection can lead to death.
Causes and Risk Factors
Cerebral malaria’s precise cause remains elusive, but two hypotheses, known as the mechanical and humoral hypotheses, have been proposed to explain its origins.
The mechanical hypothesis suggests that a protein produced by the P. falciparum parasite leads to a decrease in oxygen supply to the blood, resulting in hypoxia. This decrease in oxygen is thought to contribute to the coma characteristic of cerebral malaria. However, this hypothesis does not account for the absence of significant neurological damage in patients, even after prolonged unconsciousness.
On the other hand, the humoral hypothesis proposes that a malarial toxin triggers an excessive production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide can affect neurological function similarly to high ethanol levels or general anesthesia, leading to reduced consciousness. According to this hypothesis, the biochemical reactions explain the reversible nature of coma induced by cerebral malaria.
It’s important to note that both of these proposed causes are speculative and have yet to be confirmed through empirical evidence.