exam 4 Flashcards
(57 cards)
What does the word malaria mean, and what does it refer to?
Malaria means “bad air,” referring to the ancient belief that the disease was caused by miasmas from swamps.
What symptom pattern is characteristic of malaria?
Periodic fevers—tertian (every 48 hours) and quartan (every 72 hours), depending on the Plasmodium species.
What ancient bodily fluid was malaria historically associated with?
Black bile, believed to be stored in the spleen, which was often enlarged in malaria patients.
Who introduced cinchona bark (quinine) to Europe and promoted its use?
Spanish Jesuits, notably Cardinal Johannes de Lugo, who gave it freely in Rome.
Why did Oliver Cromwell reportedly refuse treatment for malaria?
He refused quinine because it was known as “Jesuit bark,” due to anti-Catholic sentiment
What was surprising about the effectiveness of cinchona bark in Europe?
It treated malaria effectively, even though malaria wasn’t present where the bark was originally used (Andes).
What was surprising about the effectiveness of cinchona bark in Europe?
It treated malaria effectively, even though malaria wasn’t present where the bark was originally used (Andes).
Who first identified the malaria pathogen as a protozoan?
Charles Laveran, in 1880, while working in Algeria.
Why was Laveran’s discovery controversial?
Most scientists believed infectious diseases were caused by bacteria, not protozoa.
Who proved that mosquitoes transmit malaria?
Ronald Ross, in 1897, by finding Plasmodium in mosquito stomachs.
Which Italian scientist clarified that only female Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria?
Giovanni Battista Grassi.
What award did Laveran and Ross both receive?
The Nobel Prize—Laveran in 1907, Ross in 1902.
What was DDT, and why was it controversial?
A powerful insecticide used to kill mosquitoes; it caused environmental damage and resistance.
Who discovered artemisinin, a major modern anti-malarial drug?
Tu Youyou, a Chinese pharmacologist, in the early 1970s.
Why is artemisinin significant in malaria treatment?
It’s highly effective, even against drug-resistant strains; however, resistance to it is now emerging.
What modern strategies are being explored to combat malaria?
Genetic engineering of mosquitoes, vaccines, insect nets, and preventive medication.
What challenges does malaria vaccine development face?
Complex life cycle of the parasite, few commercial incentives, and technical difficulty.
Which species of Plasmodium is the most dangerous to humans?
Plasmodium falciparum.
When did malaria arrive in the Americas, and how?
Around 1600, via the transatlantic slave trade.
Name a historical explorer who contracted malaria.
David Livingstone, during his African expeditions.
What’s a modern precaution for travelers to malaria-prone regions?
Prophylactic medication, insect repellents, and mosquito nets.
What are the major symptoms of yellow fever?
Fatigue, nausea, fever, bleeding, and black vomit—often fatal.
What treatment did Benjamin Rush advocate for yellow fever?
Aggressive bloodletting and daily purging.
What gives yellow fever its name?
It causes liver damage, leading to jaundice (yellowing of the skin).
