Anaemia is the most known Clinical risk factor, for severe malaria.

As by default, malaria will cause mild to severe anaemia due to RBC rupture by the plasmodium. If the individual is already anaemic, then the chances of being Severely anemic is high.

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Blood Groups, Other than 'O' (+ / - ve ) blood group

Blood grops of A, B and AB are at risk of being affected by Cerebral Malaria or in other terms, blood clogs in their blood vessels, by the process called (Rosetting).

Once plasmodium enters a RBC, (A, B or AB Blood Group) as part of its natural host immune evation process, the parasite, makes the RBC cells sticky and there by, the neighbouring RBCs stick to the one that has the parasite inside it. This process is called as Rosetting, since the resulting clog looks like a Rose. This process needs A or B antigen present in the RBC, that is why, this does not happen in O type blood group.

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These are the two major factors i know of. Anyone else have anymore updates?

and please do correct me, if i m wrong in my statement.

Thanks

Lokesh Ravi

Malnutrition has also been shown to be a factor which increases the risk of a patient suffering of uncomplicated malaria to develop severe malaria. This process is very fast in children in particular.

Thanks

Gaelle

Clinical Aspects and Treatment of Severe Malaria

Article Clinical Aspects and Treatment of Severe Malaria

The biggest risk factor for developing malaria is to live in or to visit areas where the disease is common. There are many different varieties of malaria parasites. The variety that causes the most serious complications is most commonly found in:

• African countries south of the Sahara Desert
• The Asian subcontinent
• New Guinea, the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Risks of more-severe disease

People at increased risk of serious disease include:

• Young children and infants
• Older adults
• Travelers coming from areas with no malaria
• Pregnant women and their unborn children

Poverty, lack of knowledge, and little or no access to health care also contribute to malaria deaths worldwide.

Immunity can wane

Residents of a malaria region may be exposed to the disease so frequently that they acquire a partial immunity, which can lessen the severity of malaria symptoms. However, this partial immunity can disappear if you move to a country where you're no longer frequently exposed to the parasite.

Complications

Malaria can be fatal, particularly malaria caused by the variety of parasite that's common in tropical parts of Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 91 percent of all malaria deaths occur in Africa — most commonly in children under the age of 5.

In most cases, malaria deaths are related to one or more serious complications, including: Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184

• Cerebral malaria. If parasite-filled blood cells block small blood vessels to your brain (cerebral malaria), swelling of your brain or brain damage may occur. Cerebral malaria may cause seizures and coma.
• Breathing problems. Accumulated fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema) can make it difficult to breathe.
• Organ failure. Malaria can cause your kidneys or liver to fail, or your spleen to rupture. Any of these conditions can be life-threatening.
• Anemia. Malaria damages red blood cells, which can result in anemia.
• Low blood sugar. Severe forms of malaria itself can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), as can quinine — one of the most common medications used to combat malaria. Very low blood sugar can result in coma or death.

Source: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184

Risk factors

The biggest risk factor for developing malaria is to live in or to visit areas where the disease is common. There are many different varieties of malaria parasites. The variety that causes the most serious complications is most commonly found in African countries south of the Sahara Desert, The Asian subcontinent and New Guinea, the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Risk of more severe disease

People at increased risk of serious disease include:

• Young children and infants
• Older adults
• Travelers coming from areas with no malaria
• Pregnant women and their unborn children