Overview of Malaria:
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. It is not caused by a virus or by the type of bacterium. The parasite is spread to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable. It does not spread from person to person. Symptoms can be mild or life threatening. It is common in tropical areas, where its hot and humid.
According to one study, in 2020 there were 241 million reported cases of this fever throughout the world with 6,27,000 deaths due to malaria. The majority of these cases occur in Africa and South Asia. It occurs all over the world and happens most often in developing countries and areas with warm temperature and high humidity. Anyone can get malaria, but people who live in Africa have a higher risk of infection than others.
Young children, older people and those who are pregnant have an increased risk of dying from this fever. People who live in poverty and do not have access to health care are more likely to have complications from this fever. It can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medicines. Treatment can stop mild cases from getting worse. Dengue and malaria are both mosquito-borne disease with some connections. To know more about dengue. Read this article, Dengue fever; symptoms and treatment – Sparkling Lifestyle
According to another study, more than 90% of deaths occur in Africa, and nearly all of the people who die are young children. More than 80% of deaths in the region in 2020 involved children under the age of five years old. Apart from female Anopheles mosquitoes bites, blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit this fever.
There are five plasmodium parasites species that cause malaria in humans and two of these species P. Falciparum and P.Vivax- pose the greatest threat. P. falciparum is the deadliest malarial fever parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent. P.vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa. The other malaria species which can infect humans are P.malariae, P.Ovale and P.knowlesi.
Symptoms of Malaria:
The most common early symptoms are fever, headache and chills. Symptoms usually start within 10 to 15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms may be mild for some people, especially for those who have had a malaria infection before. because some malarial fever symptoms are not specific, getting tested early is important. Some types can cause severe illness, and death. Infants, children under five years, pregnant woman, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk.
Some symptoms include fever with rigor, chills that shake your whole body, headache and muscle ache, fatigue, chest pain, breathing problems and cough, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting. Sometimes malaria gets worse. It can cause anemia and jaundice. The most severe form, which may progress to a coma, is known as cerebral malaria. This type represents about 15% of deaths in children, and nearly 20% of adult deaths.
How to Malaria diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms and travel history. after that, your doctor will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab to see if you have parasite. Your blood reports will tell your doctor if you have malaria and will also identify the type of parasites that is causing your symptoms. Your doctor will use this information to determine the right treatment.
Etiology of Malaria:
It spreads when a mosquito becomes infected with the disease after biting an infected person, and the infected mosquitoes then bite the non-infected person. The parasites enter the person’s bloodstream and travel to the liver. When the parasites mature, they leave the liver and infect red blood cells. This is when people physically develop symptoms.
Treatment for Malaria:
It is treated with medicines. Treatment is dependent on several things. They include, whether the medicine is being used to prevent or to treat, the severity of your symptoms, your age, how sick you are from, and whether you are pregnant. Your age and health condition are important factors in selecting a medicine to prevent or treat. Pregnant women, children, people who are very old, people who have other health problems and those who didn’t take medicine to prevent malaria infection, need special attention.
Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive to the drug. But in many parts of the world, parasites are resistant to chloroquine, and the drug is no longer an effective treatment.
Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is a combination of two or more drugs that work against the parasite in different ways. This is usually the preferred treatment for chloroquine resistance disease. Artemether injection intramuscular (3.2 mg/kgBW/12hr, 2x 1.6mg/kgBW/12hr) on day 1, followed by on day 2 and day 3 (1.6mg/kgBW/day and 7.9-8.5 mg/kgBW/12hr). Injection alpha-beta arteether 150mg daily i.m.for 3 days in adults only (not recommended for children).
According to current WHO guidelines, ACTs can be given in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The recommended treatment in the first trimester of pregnancy is quinine.
Prevention for Malaria:
If you plan on living temporarily in or travelling to an area where this fever is common, talk to your doctor about taking medications to prevent this fever. Tablet Primaquine15 mg base (26.3 mg salt), orally, once a day for 14 days can greatly reduce the chances of getting malaria. You should also take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. To lower your chances of getting fever, you should:
- Applied mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin.
- Drape mosquito netting over beds.
- Put screens on windows and doors.
- Wear long sleeves and long plants to cover your skin.
Complications of malaria:
If malaria isn’t treated properly, it can cause serious death problems, including permanent organ damage and death. The right medication and correct dose can treat malaria and clear the infection from your body.
Conclusion:
It is a preventable and treatable disease, yet it remains a significant global health challenge. Continued efforts in research, prevention and treatment are crucial to reducing its impact and ultimately achieving malaria elimination. To know more on overall wellness, read my latest book, the magical ways for sparkling lifestyle.
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