Anemia is another major cause of child morbidity and mortality in Africa. Malaria infection affects weight gain and stunts growth. Weight gain was significantly higher among infants who slept under ITBNs. Other studies show that African children who regularly receive antimalarial prophylaxis improve weight gain. Many individuals at risk of malaria have micronutrient deficiencies that may hamper protective immunity.
Nutrition appears to influence susceptibility to malaria and affects the course of the infection.
Vitamin A is important for normal immune function, and supplementation lowers morbidity of some infectious diseases, including malaria. Vitamin A inhibits parasite growth in laboratory experiments. Resistance to Fansidar is also developing due to improper use of antimalarial drugs. The number of malaria epidemics is growing too, because of heavier rain patterns in highlands and the new breeding grounds for mosquitoes created by dams and irrigation projects. The potential ban of DDT could have severe consequences for controlling malaria in countries where this is the only affordable and effective insecticide.