Understanding Malaria and Lyme Disease

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that lives part of its life in humans and part in mosquitoes. Malaria remains one of the major killers of humans world-wide, threatening the lives of more than one-third of the world's population. It thrives in the tropical areas of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, where it strikes millions of people. In the early 1970's, a mysterious clustering of arthritis cases occurred among children in Lyme, Connecticut, and surrounding towns. While scientists were busy describing signs and symptoms of Lyme disease to help doctors diagnose patients, they discovered that antibiotics were effective in its treatment and that the bite of the deer tick was the key to the spread of the disease. This book presents the most current research on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of both malaria and Lyme disease.