Malaria – It Can Be Deadly!
By John Reed on Mar 07, 2009 with Comments 0
Malaria is an infectious tropical disease caused by the parasite plasmodium. There are four species of this parasite which infect humans. The mode of transmission of malaria from human to human is the bite of female mosquito Anopheles.
Mosquitoes need human blood to reproduce. When the mosquito Anopheles bites infected human the blood which is taken is contaminated with the malaria parasites. These parasites get mixed with the saliva of the mosquito and are injected in the person being bitten when taking the next blood meal.
The parasites in the human body dwell in the liver in the initial stages. Once they mature they slip in the bloodstream and invade the red blood cells causing them to rupture. This process which involves replication, attacking and disrupting of red blood cells may reiterated. Since the malaria parasites are present in the red blood cells the mode of transmission of this disease also include transfusion of blood, transplanting of organs, sharing unhygienic needles which are contaminated with blood for drug usage or from mother to her unborn infant.
Malaria symptoms are not always distinguished easily and so can be dismissed as being insignificant as the initial symptoms resemble the normal flu. A person may have:
- Mild headache
- Joint and muscle pain
- Stomach ache
- Fatigue and lethargy
- Chills
As the temperatures rises and the malaria parasites commence multiplying the symptoms may change. These include
- High fever
- Acute headache
- Sweating profusely
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Enlarged spleen and liver
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite and weight
- Cough
- Slight Jaundice
- Anemia
- Kidney collapse
- Dysentery
- Breath shortness
The range of the mosquito bite and the onset of this disease is 7 to 21 days.
A doctor is able to diagnose malaria by examination of the patient’s blood test and acquiring the complete medical history of the patient. Travel history of the patient is also very essential in diagnosing the type of parasite which is residing and attacking the blood cells. The physician may then prescribe antimalarial drugs. These drugs vary with the different species and stages of the parasite’s cycle. Malaria parasites differ according to different countries and regions. Thereby the determination of the susceptibility of the drug depends upon the region where the infection was caused as malaria parasites are resistant to certain medications.
Since malaria can become deadly it is always wise to take certain precautions for its prevention.
Avoiding traveling to the countries where the incidence of malaria is high is most certainly the best option.
If this is not possible then antimalarial drugs should be taken in order to prevent infection.
Exposure to the mosquitoes should be eluded in the early hours of the dawn and the evening as this is the time for the greatest mosquito action.
When outdoors wear clothing which covers the body completely (for eg hat, long sleeves, and long pants).
Apply insect-repellent to the exposed skin.
Sleep inside mosquito nets that have been sprayed with mosquito-repellents
Cover windows and doors with screens to avert the entry of mosquitoes.
Continue to take antimalarial drugs four weeks after returning home.
Though malaria can be cured if treated in its initial stages it can also prove to be fatal. Since there is no vaccine which can make the body resistant to malaria it is paramount to take precautions.
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