Malaria is a common mosquito-borne disease. It is spread by the parasite Plasmodium. Mosquitoes carry this disease. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in humans worldwide. There are 5 types of Plasmodium parasites that can cause malaria infection. Of the four types of malaria, 90% of infected people die each year Due to the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
Every year 800,000 people die due to malaria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria kills one child every 45 seconds. The history of this disease is very ancient, and a similar type of fever was reported in 6000 BC. It is very common and spread disease in many areas, especially in tropical countries.
Malaria is known to have originated in Africa, and from there the infection has spread to other parts of the world. In the case of mankind, it has emerged as a deadly disease. Studies have shown that malaria probably came from monkeys to humans. It is known (p. Falciparum) P. falciparum parasite. About 500 million cases of malaria are reported each year, of which 85% are in sub-Saharan Africa, and 85% of all malaria cases in Africa are caused by a single class of malaria, which is Plasmodium Falciparum.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a common infection, which can be fatal. It is widespread in many tropical countries, such as Africa, Asia, and South America. It is spread by the parasite Plasmodium. It is simply the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
So far, more than 60 species of malaria parasites have been identified, but 5 of them are responsible for human malaria, these are malaria, Plasmodium Falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium Colesae, and Plasmodium malariae. The parasite is transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito (which is a vector of the disease).
Once the parasite enters human blood it grows and begins to grow in the liver and then it attacks and destroys red blood cells. When a female mosquito bites a human, the parasite enters the human body and causes symptoms such as fever, headache, and vomiting.
It can be completely cured if diagnosed at the appropriate time. If the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the infection will reach its final stage and a complicated situation may arise. The majorities of deaths due to malaria are due to untimely diagnosis and delay in proper Malaria treatment.
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Malaria Symptoms:
The symptoms of malaria are divided into two categories – simple and complex.
Symptoms of Simple Malaria:
If any person infected with simple malaria, all the symptoms, including the nature of malaria, can be seen, but with all these symptoms there are no symptoms of complex malaria and there is no major damage in body organs.
When simple malaria is not treated, it takes on a complex shape. A person with low immunity can get complicated malaria. The symptoms of malaria last for 6 to 10 hours and come back every day. These symptoms may vary depending on the nature of the parasite, and sometimes mixed symptoms can appear.
Simple malaria symptoms lead to the following Complications:
- Feeling cold with shivering.
- Excessive fever, headache, and vomiting.
- Younger patients may have seizures.
- Fever with sweating and feeling tired and exhausted.
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Symptoms of Complex Malaria:
By Symptoms of complex malaria, it can be identified that vital organs of the body are significantly damaged.
Some of the characteristic symptoms of complex malaria are listed below:
Symptoms of complex malaria include damage to vital organs.
Some of the characteristic symptoms of complex malaria are:
- Fever and shivering.
- Problems of unconsciousness from waking up and loss of consciousness.
- Desire to lie on the back (chest down and back up).
- Deep breathing, difficulty in breathing.
- Habits of anemia, such as fatigue and general weakness.
- Signs of jaundice, such as yellowing of the whites of the eyes and nails, and excessive yellowing of the urine.
Complex malaria can lead to death if left untreated. Malaria symptoms are matched with Common flue or viral fever symptoms for those who never infected before, and for those diagnosis is become difficult.
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Malaria Complications:
Malaria is an important disease, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. The falciparum parasite is the most harmful and causes the most deaths.
- Anemia: Harmful anemia is caused by the destruction of red blood cells by the malaria parasite. Anemia is a condition in which the red blood cells cannot transport enough oxygen to the muscles and other organs of the body and as a result, the patient becomes sleepy, manifests physical weakness and the body becomes pale.
- Cerebral Malaria: This usually results in brain damage and swelling of the brain. In some cases, the brain is permanently damaged. This can lead to seizures or the onset of an unconscious coma.
- Other Complications:
- Shortness of breath, water retention in the lungs, liver failure, and jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin)
- Shock (sudden loss of blood flow)
- Continuous bleeding
- Abnormally low blood sugar levels
- Kidney failure
- Spleen swelling and perforation
- Dehydration
Malaria Diagnosis:
There are various tests available to diagnose Malaria, these are:
Microscopic Testing: The most widely used and trusted test for malaria is the microscopic blood test, where the parasites of the four major species can be easily diagnosed separately.
Immuno Chromatographic Tests: Immunochromatographic tests are known as ‘rapid tests’ to diagnose malaria. In this case, the disease is diagnosed with the help of ‘dipsticks’ and intravenous blood is used in this test. It takes a total of 15 to 20 minutes to complete the test. The test results are determined by the presence or absence of colored spots on the dipsticks, so it is very useful for field tests.
In these rapid diagnostic tests, the maximum detection limit is 100 parasites per cubic liter of blood (commercial kit ranges from 0.02 percent to 0.1 percent parasitism). One drawback is that dipsticks tests are qualitatively accurate but not quantitative. This test can detect the presence of parasites in the blood, but cannot count the number.
Molecular Methods: It is used in medical laboratories and rapid ‘real-time’ testing [e.g., polymerase chain reaction (polymerase chain reaction or PCR)]. This method is used in epidemic affected areas. PCR (and other molecular methods) is more accurate than microscopic testing.
Malaria Treatment:
Classification, mechanism of action, and chemical composition of anti-malarial drugs in the treatment of malaria:
- Tissue schizophrenia: This drug acts on parasites in the liver and inhibits their growth. Malaria is not only treated with this drug because when the parasites grow and they begin to destroy red blood cells, then symptoms of malaria appear. It is virtually impossible to understand the presence of infection before seeing the symptoms.
- Tissue schizophrenics for re-attack: Some parasites may be present in the liver which can cause the re-infection of malaria, this drug works on them.
- Blood schizophrenia: These drugs work on the blood form of parasites and are the most important anti-malarial drugs.
- Gamiotocytosides: These drugs work against reproductive parasites present in the blood and help prevent the spread of infection by mosquito bites. Some drugs in this class are active against all types of malaria and others are effective against some parasites.
- Sporontosides: These drugs prevent the formation of oocytes in mosquitoes and prevent infection.
- Combination therapy: using a combination of different drugs is the effective treatment of malaria, which simultaneously works on parasites present in the liver and blood and prevents the spread of infection. This process involves the simultaneous use of two or more drugs that inactivate different parts of the parasite. This type of treatment shortens the duration of treatment and reduces the risk of growth of resistant parasites.
More Anti-malarial Drugs:
- Quinine and related agents
- Chloroquine
- Amodiaquine
- Pyri methamine
- Proguanil
- Sulfonamides
- Mefloquine
- Autovacon
- Primaquine
- Artemisinin and derivatives
- Halofantrine
- Doxycycline
- Clindamycin
The nature of the infection, the severity of the infection, the physical condition of the patient and the associated conditions, and the method of administering different drugs at the same time depend on the disease. People infected with P. Falciparum need to be closely monitored and tested because it can develop resistance to relatively difficult infections and anti-malarial drugs.
If a pregnant woman is infected, she should be given a combination of different drugs because some malaria drugs are not safe for pregnant women. Physicians need to see if the affected person has a history of epilepsy, heart disease, renal failure, and skin disease because in these patients, either different medications should be given in combination or different potency medications should be given.
Malaria Prevention:
No effective Malaria vaccine has yet been developed to prevent malaria. However, this disease is completely curable and preventable. Awareness is needed to stay away from mosquito-borne diseases. Staying away from mosquito bites is a way to prevent this disease.
There is something to be done about this. For example, you must use a mosquito net or coil while sleeping during the day or night. Use of mosquito repellent nets, resistant creams, sprays on doors and windows. Care should be taken to ensure that mosquitoes do not breed in frozen areas around the house or to clean stagnant reservoirs and waterlogged areas regularly.
Mosquitoes lay more eggs in stagnant water. Sprinkle pesticides or kerosene in these places. When traveling to malaria-prone areas consult a doctor in advance or keep up with anti-malarial drugs.
Insect Reproduction Control (in larval and pupa stage):
- All breeding grounds should be filled and covered.
- Always keep the stored water with the lid on. Always keep an eye on the tires, pots, coolers, tanks of the car so that water does not accumulate in such places. Clean potential areas once a week with chlorine or temephos.
- Exclude the source of reproduction.
- Use larvae-eating fish like gambusia or guppies in home decorated tanks, fountains, and other places.
- Use larvae destroying chemicals like Abbott in drinking water.
Home Remedies:
- Use a good mosquito net while sleeping.
- Use mosquito repellent, liquids, coils, and mats.
- Use ‘indoor residual spray’ (ERS) with pesticides.
- Use aerosol space spray during the day.
- Use insecticides.
- Install wire mesh on windows, ventilators, and open spaces.
- Use insect repellent.
- Cover most of the body with a cloth.
- Use the correct insect repellent medicine that contains diethyltoluamide.
- Keep doors and windows well closed in the evening and at night when you are most afraid of mosquito bites.
For the Protection of The Public:
- Spreading malathion spray during outbreaks.
- The area around the handled faucet should be well cemented, with a drainage system well done.
- The identification of the place of reproduction of Anopheles requires greater public sensitivity and involvement.
- Safety while traveling:
- If you are planning a trip, find out if there is a risk of malaria in that particular area, and seek medical advice before traveling.
- If you travel to malaria-affected areas, you must take anti-malarial drugs with you.
Prevention of Malaria During Pregnancy:
- Use Insect repaired mosquito repellent / Pesticide repellent mosquito repellent (LLIN).
- Personally follow all the preventive measures mentioned above.
Final Words:
First, consult with your doctor before taking any medication. These drugs are given before and after going to the hilly areas. However, it is not 100% effective in preventing malaria. So the most effective way is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Complications can be avoided if the disease is diagnosed quickly and treatment is started as soon as possible. Therefore, if fever and other symptoms occur, take the help of a doctor to diagnose the disease without suppressing by taking paracetamol. The common viral fever, dengue, chikungunya usually heals in five to seven days. It is important to look for the cause of any fever over a long period of time with the help of tests.
