New eye study reveals malaria clues

Studying the human eye can give important information in the fight against malaria, it has been revealed.

According to research published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, studying the retina of patients infected with cerebral malaria gave an insight into why the condition has such a deadly effect.

Dr Nick Beare of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, who conducted the research, said: "We have previously used the retina to accurately diagnose severe malaria, but now this window into the brain has opened up our knowledge of what makes cerebral malaria so deadly.

"This is the first study to clearly show impaired blood flow in the eyes of patients with cerebral malaria.

"It has provided strong evidence to support what, until now, had been merely hypothesised: that cerebral malaria causes inadequate blood flow to the brain, depriving it of oxygen and causing potentially life-threatening damage."

Dr Beare worked with staff at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi to study the eyes of 34 children with malaria.