About this Research Topic
World Malaria Day takes places on the 25th of April, which was first established in 2007. It has been estimated that there were 229 million cases of malaria and 409,000 malaria-related deaths in 2019. Cerebral Malaria is recognized as the most severe complication associated with malaria which can lead to neurological and cognitive deficits. Even after aggressive treatment cerebral malaria still has a mortality rate of 20% in adults and 15% in children.
Cerebral malaria is often characterized by a coma where no other cause explains the coma. Studies have indicated that children can sustain significant brain injury as a result of cerebral malaria which can include ataxia, psychosis and cranial nerve lesions among other complications. Often individuals are able to make a full recovery after two weeks however there is great variability in recovery. Further to this, increasing resistance to antimalarial medicines makes treatment more difficult.
Considering these statistics, this Research Topic will be used as a platform to shine a light on the latest neurological research that can aid early prognosis, better our understanding of the neurological damage associated with cerebral malaria and use this to propel effective therapeutic interventions.
In the spirit of forming a united front, Frontiers is launching a new article collection to coincide with this UN day. This occasion not only offers an opportunity to acknowledge that children and adults across the globe are suffering from the implications of cerebral malaria but also consider the importance of increasing research into this severe condition to decrease mortality rates.
Topics may include but are by no means limited to:
- Cellular neuronal damage caused by cerebral malaria
- Cognitive deficits and neurological alterations and their short-term and long-term recovery in adults and children
- Mental health sequelae as a result of brain injury
- Alteration in cellular and neural function during and post-recovery
- Neuronal stress responses after infection
Cerebral malaria is often characterized by a coma where no other cause explains the coma. Studies have indicated that children can sustain significant brain injury as a result of cerebral malaria which can include ataxia, psychosis and cranial nerve lesions among other complications. Often individuals are able to make a full recovery after two weeks however there is great variability in recovery. Further to this, increasing resistance to antimalarial medicines makes treatment more difficult.
Considering these statistics, this Research Topic will be used as a platform to shine a light on the latest neurological research that can aid early prognosis, better our understanding of the neurological damage associated with cerebral malaria and use this to propel effective therapeutic interventions.
In the spirit of forming a united front, Frontiers is launching a new article collection to coincide with this UN day. This occasion not only offers an opportunity to acknowledge that children and adults across the globe are suffering from the implications of cerebral malaria but also consider the importance of increasing research into this severe condition to decrease mortality rates.
Topics may include but are by no means limited to:
- Cellular neuronal damage caused by cerebral malaria
- Cognitive deficits and neurological alterations and their short-term and long-term recovery in adults and children
- Mental health sequelae as a result of brain injury
- Alteration in cellular and neural function during and post-recovery
- Neuronal stress responses after infection
Keywords: Cerebral Malaria, neuronal damage, cognitive deficits, brain health
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
