Facts about malaria

Facts about malaria

1. What is it?

Malaria is a mosquito borne of human and animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The dieses are when the multiplication of Plasmodium occurs in the red blood cells which cause the symptoms which include fever and headache and in more severe cases the result can be coma or even death. It is most common is tropical areas and sub tropical areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas.

2. What causes it, and how is it spread?

Malaria parasites are from the genus Plasmodium. In humans malaria is caused by P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. knowlesi.But with the exception of P. knowlesi, these are mostly of limited public health importance. Malaria is spread by female mosquitoes which carry the malaria in their saliva and when they bite you the malaria is transmitted into the blood cells via the saliva. It can also be passed on by a pregnant lady to her baby, using and needle that have been used by a person with malaria, and having a blood transfer from a person with malaria are ways how malaria is spread.

3. What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of malaria include

• Fever

• Sweats

• Shaking chills

• Headaches

• Tiredness

• Muscles aches

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea

Infection with one of malaria parasite, plasmodium falciparum may cause severe symptoms such as

• Kidney failure

• Seizures

• Mental confusion

• Coma

• Severe anemia

• Fluid in lungs (pulmonary edema)

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

• Bleeding due to blood clotting problems

• death

How is it diagnosed? The mainstay of malaria diagnosis has been the microscopic examination of blood. Although blood is the sample most frequently used to make a diagnosis, both saliva and urine have been investigated as alternative, less invasive specimens.

4. How is it treated? When a patient is properly treated he is expected to make a full recovery. The treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Less sever malarias can be treated only by drugs. More sever malaria are treated by parenteral anti malaria drugs, the most effective anti malaria drug for sever malaria are quinine but artesunate has proved to be the most effective drug in children and adults.

5. How is it prevented?

The effort to prevent malaria started in 1896 just before they found the link between malaria and mosquitoes which was confirmed in India by British physician Ronald Ross. You can also prevent it by staying away from places that have malaria or taking malaria pills. Prophylactic malaria medicines require you to start taking the medicine a few days or a week before you leave on

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