Symptoms of paroxysms in malaria are due to

Options

A. Sporozoite
B. Gametocyte
C. Pre-erythrocytic cycle
D. Erythrocytic cycle

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Paroxysms**:
- Paroxysms refer to symptoms that have a sudden onset, brief duration, and rapid disappearance. In the context of malaria, these symptoms manifest as sudden chills followed by high fever.

2. **Identifying the Cause**:
- The symptoms of paroxysms in malaria are primarily due to the lifecycle of the malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium. The symptoms arise from the effects of the parasite on the human body.

3. **Life Cycle of Plasmodium**:
- Plasmodium undergoes different stages in its life cycle, which includes:
- **Sporozoite Stage**: This is the infective stage that enters the human bloodstream through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
- **Pre-Erythrocytic Cycle**: This occurs in the liver where the parasite multiplies before entering the red blood cells.
- **Erythrocytic Cycle**: This is where the parasite infects red blood cells, multiplies, and eventually causes the red blood cells to burst.

4. **Connection to Symptoms**:
- The paroxysmal symptoms, such as chills and fever, are specifically linked to the erythrocytic cycle. During this cycle, the merozoites released from the bursting red blood cells also release hemozoin, a toxin that triggers the symptoms of fever and chills.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the symptoms of paroxysms in malaria are due to the **erythrocytic cycle** of the Plasmodium parasite.

### Final Answer:
The symptoms of paroxysms in malaria are due to the **erythrocytic cycle**.

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