ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Quinine

Quinine is a special medicine that helps people with malaria. Malaria is a sickness that happens when little bugs called parasites bite people who live in places like Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. When these parasites bite people, they can make them feel very sick with fever, headaches, and sometimes even make them very weak or even die.

Quinine comes from the bark of a special tree called the cinchona tree. The bark of this tree has a special medicine inside it that can help kill the malaria parasites. People who are sick with malaria can take quinine in the form of a pill or a liquid to help make them feel better.

Quinine is a very special medicine that has been used for a very long time to help people who suffer from malaria. It's important to take it just like the doctor says so that it can help make you healthy again!