Question: Thank you for your response, it really helps. I am currently writing an extended essay on "To what extent does malnutrition in Tanzania affect the prevalence of malaria?" I was wondering what are your thoughts on the relationship between malnutrition and malaria?

Alena Pance answered on 22 May 2020:

Hi Sophia, I’m glad I could help.
With regards to malnutrition, I think it is an important parameter because it affects the immune system. So malnourished children will have weaker defenses and therefore will be more susceptible to infections in general. In places like Tanzania, where malaria is endemic and there are high transmission seasons, the potential contact with the parasite is quite high and if the immune system is impaired infection happens with smaller inoculae of parasites followed by more severe clinical symptoms and longer recovery periods. All of this will be manifest in the prevalence of the disease in the community. However, it is something very difficult to measure and evaluate, mainly because the methods and parameters used in the different studies are not standarised so there is a bit of controversy about it. Here is a review of the subject that might give you more of an insight:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6205776/

Best wishes,
Alena