Malaria indices in children from the urban and peri-urban areas of Kampala

Abstract

Malaria in man is the term given to the acute or chronic infections commonly caused by four species of protozoa parasites belonging to genus plasmodium. Malaria is characterized by fever which tends to be paroxysmal, by anaemia and splenomegaly and often by symptoms resulting from lesions of particular organisms. In the past the names given to acute fevers varied widely amongst countries and even ethnic groups due to the misconception (e.g. malaria – “bad air”, paludisme – “coming from the mashes”) of the true causation of the disease. The concept and term of “malaria” are relatively of late origin. Torti (1658-1741) who first distinguished malaria from other fevers through their property of being cured by cinchoma bark does not employ any simple term in his famous work “Therapeutic Specialis” first published in 1712.