Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium, a single-celled parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.
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When a parasite enters a person's bloodstream, it begins to destroy the liver cells and red blood cells. This damage to the cells is seen as a variety of symptoms, and in extreme cases, they may indicate death.
Malaria is a global health problem and affects millions of people, in particular,
Children under 5 years old
Pregnant women
Patients with health conditions such as HIV and AIDS.
People in tropical and subtropical regions are at greater risk of contracting malaria so much so that the vast area around the equator including Latin America, Sub-Saharan, South Asia, and South East Asia is known as the malaria belt. ?
There are about 100 types of plasmodium but only 5 of them cause the spread of malaria in humans.
The female Anopheles mosquito is the most common cause of malaria as it eats more human blood than male nectar-eating mosquitoes.
P. falciparum, in particular, causes 90 percent of malaria deaths. Mosquitoes pick up plasmodium by biting an infected person.
Later, the same mosquitoes transmit the animal's saliva to another.
Harmful germs enter the red blood cells where they reproduce, leading to inflammation of the red blood cells that eventually erupt.
Toxic substances transmitted by dead red blood cells create a strong immune response that leads to the flu-like symptoms of malaria.
As malaria spreads through the bloodstream, it can also be caused by organ transplants, syringes or syringes or blood transfusions.
The female Anopheles mosquito also lays eggs in stagnant or slow-moving water that turns into worms in a humid environment and becomes a breeding ground for the same. Symptoms of Malaria
Medium to severe cold and high temperatures
Severe fatigue and sweating
Damage to the red blood cells may cause Anemia
Headache and body aches
When the brain is affected, it is known as cerebral malaria which leads to bloating, constipation, or mood swings.
When the liver is affected, it is known as obvious malaria and results in diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, and liver failure.
Other organs affected by malaria can include the kidneys, lungs, and spleen.
Several blood tests can detect the presence of a parasite and can help determine if a person is infected with malaria, as well as the type of parasite that causes symptoms.
There are various types of malaria tests, some of which may take days to show results and some may show results in less than 15 minutes. The two types are:
Immediate recovery kits are simple and quick to show results but are expensive and may show good results even after the person has recovered.
A peripheral smear test includes a thick blood test that helps detect parasite lodging in red blood cells and a small blood smear that helps to identify plasmodium directly. How is it treated?
The treatment of malaria depends on the different stages of malaria. Anti-malarial compounds such as chloroquine can be used in cases of clinical suspicion of malaria.
Drugs such as vivax and falciparum are only used in cases of severe malaria or when a patient is diagnosed with malaria after a clinical examination.
Malaria drugs are short-acting and long-lasting and it is important to know the differences and the type of medication because malaria is treated with a combination of these drugs (one short dose + one long dose).
Only Chloroquine is used alone without any combination therapy. How Can You Prevent Malaria?
Use mosquito nets in all sleeping areas and spray mosquito repellent on the outside.
The malaria-causing mosquitoes breed in stagnant or slow-moving water. Therefore, it is important to cover the lids of water containers and to avoid accumulating water during long periods of rain.
Spray solutions and mosquito repellent products to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and to kill malaria mosquitoes, if any.
Taking anti-malarial drugs as prophylaxis after visiting areas with increasing malaria rates. Chloroquine can be taken weekly on long trips to such places and is also safe for pregnant women.
Wear sleeveless shirts and full bottoms to avoid mosquito bites.
Various medicines can be used to treat malaria but they should not be used without consulting a doctor or before testing.
It is always a good idea to know the causes of malaria to prevent the disease and to know your symptoms so that you do not panic when these symptoms suddenly appear.
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