QUESTION

Does malaria affect your brain?

I was 18months when I had it and I almost died. I didn’t talk until I was 3 years old and have always had troubles with schooling. Now I’m 23 and for at least 3/4 years I’ve had problems with my memory and speech. I don’t know if its new or I have just been noticing it more since I’m older and I’m still experiencing my learning troubles. So can this be a result of my malaria?

ANSWER

In fact, cerebral malaria (one of the most severe and deadly manifestations) is linked to mental and developmental issues later in life. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the vast majority of cases of cerebral malaria in children are found, malaria is actually a leading cause of neuro-disability. As such, it could well be that some of the difficulties you have experienced with memory, speech and learning could have been at least partially caused by infection with malaria as a young child. It may be that certain forms of neuro-therapy may assist in improving some of your difficulties, though you would have to talk to a specialist in neurodisabilities.