Malaria susceptibility reason revealed

A possible reason why some children are far more likely to develop malaria than others has been discovered by researchers.

Experts from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine revealed that prenatal exposure to Plasmodium falciparum can result in tolerance to parasites developing in some babies.

In turn, this causes the immune system to have less ability to destroy malaria parasites.

In addition, the risk of anaemia is increased by prenatal exposure to Plasmodium falciparum.

Writing in the journal PLoS Medicine, study leader Dr Indu Malhotra, commented: "This is the first time it has been shown why some children are more susceptible to malaria and anemia than other children.

"This study is timely given President Obama's Global Health Initiative to assist developing countries to control malaria, one of the 'big three' diseases."

The research was carried out with Kenyan colleagues at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and Division of Vector Borne Diseases.

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