Malaria is an infectious disease that kills nearly a million children each year (Miller, Ackerman, Su, & Wellems, 2013). Although there are several different species of malaria, this article will focus on Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly species. Parasitic infection with P. falciparum can cause many negative effects, including death. This article will explore how the disease is acquired, the risk factors as well as the pathogenesis of the parasite and ultimately potential treatment options based on the progression of the disease process. Causal agent, mode of transmission and risk factorsP. falciparum is a protozoan parasite which, once infected by its human host, causes the disease known as malaria (Lehne, 2013, p.1238). This particular species of the genus Plasmodium is believed to have originated over one hundred thousand years ago (Carucci, 2004). These protozoan parasites are transferred to the human host via a vector in the form of a female Anopheles insect where the parasite resides in the saliva and is released when the insect feeds on human blood (Miller et al. , 2013). The mosquito acquires this parasite by the same means by feeding on an infected host: the protozoan is ingested, develops and multiplies in the stomach and, once matured, it moves towards the salivary glands to spread to the next human host (Kyes, Horrocks, & Newbold, 2001). There are many risk factors for contracting the parasite, including living or traveling to countries where malaria is endemic, not taking proper precautions such as using insect repellent, and areas with large amounts of standing water that are breeding sites for mosquitoes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010).Pathogens...... middle of article......A., Theron, M., Uchikawa, M., & ... Wright, G. (2011). Basigin is an essential receptor for erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum. Nature, 480 (7378), 534-537. Egan, T. J. & Ross, D. C. (1996). The mechanism of action of quinolines and related antimalarial drugs. South African Journal of Science, 92(1), 11.-Kyes, S., Horrocks, P. and Newbold, C. (2001). Antigenic variation on the surface of infected red blood cells in malaria. Annual Review of Microbiology, 55673-707.-Lehne, R. (2013). Pharmacology for nursing. (8th ed., pp. 1238-1243). St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders, an brand of Elsevier Inc.-Miller, L., Ackerman, H., Su, X., & Wellems, T. (2013). Biology of malaria and pathogenesis of the disease: perspectives for new treatments. Nature Medicine, 19(2), 156-167.-Miller, LH, Baruch, DI and Marsh, K. (2002). The pathogenic basis of malaria. Nature, 415(6872), 673-679.