Malaria is a disease caused by the plasmodium parasite which is transferred by the female anopheles mosquito that belongs to the Plasmodium genus. Malaria is a life-threatening disease, that has caused over 430,000 deaths, seeing this, Healthvim has decided to provide with adequate knowledge on malaria. Sit back and enjoy your ride with us!!.
Malaria, as earlier said is caused by the plasmodium parasite which is transferred by the female anopheles mosquito, the plasmodium parasite are of four major types namely; Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and plasmodium vivax. Of the above listed four, Plasmodium Falciparum is most deadly as it could result to a very intense malaria which could result to death due to the negative side-effects. The malaria parasite has a high survival rate in the tropical and subtropical regions, making the malaria disease more common in these region. s and these has led to the death of thousands especially young children in Africa.
When a person is bitten by an infected female anopheles mosquito, the plasmodium parasite travels through the blood stream to the liver where it grows and matures, after which it is released from the liver and it then starts to infect red blood cells, and this is quite weakening as these cells play vital role in the transport of oxygen in the human system.
CAUSES
As already stated, it is caused by the plasmodium parasite which is transferred to man by bites from an infected female anopheles mosquito, malaria affects the red blood cells and as such is found in the blood, so any incidence that would lead to the blood of an infected person getting into the biological system of another person would eventually lead to it's transfer, such incidence might include blood transfusion, organ transplant, using infected needles e.t.c. malaria has been discovered to be transferable from a pregnant mother to her child at birth, such is known as congenital malaria.
SYMPTOMS
After the matures parasites have been released from the liver, they attack the red blood cells, and within 2-3 days, they cause these cells to burst, this is when one starts to observe some malaria symptoms which will be outlined below, it might take an average of about 2 weeks after being infected before symptoms become visible, malaria symptoms are quite numerous, and the malaria might be classified into uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria, it is uncomplicated when there is no vital organ failure or dysfunction, and is said to be severe when there is vital organs failure or dysfunction. Common symptoms associated with malaria includes;
-vomiting
-fever
-feeling cold and shivering
-headaches
-fatigue
-muscle pain
-bloody stools
-intense sweating
-abnormal breathing
-clinical jaundice
-impaired consciousness. e.t.c.
DANGEROUS SIDE-COMPLICATIONS
This killer disease has earned his title due to the numerous deadly complications that comes with it and if which left untreated would gladly claim the life of the patient, below are some of them;
-liver, kidney or spleen failure
-anemia
-edema in the lungs making breathing difficult
-the blood vessels of the brain may get swollen
PREVENTION
Prevention they say is better than cure, so it would be wise for one to know efficient steps to take so as to prevent one from being a victim of this disease, some of the steps to take includes;
-the use of mosquito net to sleep at night so as to prevent mosquito from biting one and hence prevent the transfer of the parasite.
-cover skin or spray body with bug sprays containing DEET.
-vaccination would have been the most effective preventive measure to take but do sad that there is just one vaccine as there has been none ever since, and this vaccine is only licensed in Europe and not even in the U.S .
TREATMENT
what if one has already been infected?, what can one then do, in such instances you are advised to visit the nearest health centre closest to you where a doctor would examine your symptoms for proper diagnosis and be sure that it is actually malaria, as the symptoms of malaria are quite similar to that of flu. After proper diagnosis, he would then recommend effective drugs for you to take. The World Health Organisation (WHO) ,actually recommended the use of artemisinin based combination therapy(ACT) to treat malaria, this Artemisinin is extracted from the plant known as sweet wormwood, it aids in reducing the density of plasmodium parasite in the blood
and is actually used along side with a partner drug for more effective treatment.
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