Which Plasmodium species invades both old and young red blood cells, can have multiple ring forms, and is associated with intravascular hemolysis; treatment includes chloroquine or quinine sulfate?

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Falciparum malaria stands out because it can invade red blood cells of all ages, not just young ones, which allows very high parasite loads. Inside a single infected cell you may see more than one ring form, a telltale sign of falciparum infection. The parasite’s presence in the microvasculature leads to intravascular hemolysis and can cause severe complications like cerebral malaria. Treatment historically includes chloroquine for susceptible strains and quinine sulfate for severe disease or resistant strains. In contrast, other malaria species have different RBC targets and patterns: some prefer immature red cells and form dormant liver stages, while another mainly infects older red cells and presents with different fever patterns. Babesia can also cause intravascular hemolysis but is a different organism with distinct treatment.