Question: @linda why do only some adults and kids with severe malaria get sticky bumps on their red blood cells

Linda Anagu answered on 17 Jun 2016:

@Fatima and Aisha, I think I answered your question yesterday, but nevertheless, I will answer i again. Younger kids have an immature immune system as they have not encountered malaria as long as adults have. So the parasite is able to produce more sticky bumps as the number of parasite and activity of the parasite are more compared to normal adults. For some vulnerable adults, ie adults with weak immune system like cancer and diabetic patients, their immune system behave like that of children and cannot kill some of the parasite and so the parasite will flourish in their system and produce more sticky bumps. Immune system is what helps us fight germs and parasite. And, you develop your immune system by eating veggies, protein and encountering germs and parasite in tiny quantity. That does not mean you should deliberately infect yourself.