Malaria
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria. There are five types that can infect humans.
A mosquito gets infected when it bites someone who’s infected with the parasites. When that
mosquito bites someone else, it transfers a parasite to the other person’s bloodstream. There,
the parasites multiply.
In rare cases, malaria can pass from a pregnant person to the fetus during pregnancy or birth.
It’s possible, but unlikely, for malaria to be passed through blood transfusions, organ donations
and needles.
Risk factors
The risk of getting malaria is higher if you live in or travel to areas where it spreads, like parts of
Africa. You’re at higher risk of serious illness and death if you:
Are younger than 5 years old
Are pregnant
Have a weakened immune system
Don’t have access to healthcare
Malaria is most common in areas with warm temperatures and high humidity, including:
Africa
Central and South America
Dominican Republic, Haiti and other areas in the Caribbean
South and Southeast Asia
Islands in the Central and South Pacific Ocean (Oceania)
Complications of malaria
If left untreated, malaria can cause:
Coma
Organ failure
Death
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms and travel
history. It’s important to let them know what countries you’ve visited recently so they
can clearly understand your risk.
Your provider will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab to see if you
have Plasmodium parasites. The blood test will tell your provider if you have malaria
and will also identify the Plasmodium species. They’ll use this information to
determine the right treatment.
Malaria Treatment
Antimalarial medications can treat malaria and clear the infection from your body, but it’s
important to start treatment as soon as possible. If malaria isn’t treated properly, it can cause
serious health problems, including permanent organ damage and death. Your provider will
prescribe medications to kill the type of Plasmodium parasite responsible for your infection.
Some parasites are resistant to malaria drugs.
Antimalarial drugs include:
Artemisinin drugs (artemether and artesunate)
Atovaquone
Chloroquine
Doxycycline
Mefloquine
Quinine
Primaquine
After treatment, it’s important to protect oneself from mosquitoes as much as possible. If
you’ve had malaria before, you can get it again if an infected mosquito bites you.
One should also take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. To lower chances of getting malaria,
one should:
Apply mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin.
Drape mosquito netting over beds.
Put screens on windows and doors.
Treat clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags and other fabrics with an insect
repellent called permethrin.
Wear long pants and long sleeves to cover your skin.
Vaccine against malaria
Two vaccines that help protect against malaria are available. Public health officials recommend
vaccination against malaria for children who live in areas where infections are common.
Malaria is a serious illness, but you can take steps to prevent it. One can lower your risk of
infection by protecting yourself from mosquito bites and taking preventive medications. If
you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common, talk to a healthcare provider several
weeks before you leave. This is especially important if you’re pregnant. And talk to a provider
right away if you’ve traveled to an area where malaria is common and you have symptoms.
NB:
The main cause of malaria is a mosquito which bites us and we get malaria. However, a mosquito will
bite someone who allows it free entry and exit to the house. If the mosquito finds you without a
mosquito net i n the house , you will end up being a victim.
The caretakers of children under the age of five believe that over crying, refusal to breastfeed and
sometimes vomiting are the symptoms of malaria among children. Other signs and symptoms that were
reported across the groups include: Yellow eyes, Loss of appetite, diarrhea and not feeling the heat from
the sun as a normal person would feel.
Improving on sanitation and hygiene through cutting the bushes around homes is one preventive and
control measure of malaria. The burning of rubbish and waste that includes broken potteries and open
tins is relevant in malaria control. This act destroys the mosquito habitats and the breeding sites. The
other preventive and control approaches are: Digging dumping sites for rubbish, covering ponds with
stagnant water, drinking boiled water and closing windows and doors early enough.
ACTIVITY
(a)Daniel has a wife and five children. He has recently become ill with malaria. Describe the
psychological impact that having malaria may have on him.(8 marks)
(b)Daniel is having to take time off work. Describe the possible social impact of malaria on Daniel and his
family. (12 marks)
