SCHOOL OF HEALTH

COLLEGE
PROFESSIONS OF NURSING
AND WELLNESS 700 Pelham Road North
JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY Jacksonville, AL 36265-1602
JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY
Malaria Transmission in Pediatric Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa
by: Ihssan M. Tahir RN, BSN

Every two minutes a child under two dies of Malaria.

-UNICEF
Significance/Incidence
o Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal
disease caused by a parasite that commonly Levels of Prevention and APN Role:
infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds Levels of Prevention with Malaria :
on humans. Children are most often affected
Primary- An intervention before development of
(CDC, 2020).
Malaria:
o Sub-Saharan Africa consists of the countries
- Educating regarding mosquito nets for young
that are geographically south of the Sahara
children, use of repellant, limiting time
desert.
around bodies of water, dressing children in
o 46 countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
long loose clothing.
o In 2017, 219 million malaria cases were
Secondary-An intervention once malaria has
diagnosed (UNICEF, 2017):
begun but is asymptomatic.
o435,000 total deaths with 266,000 (61%) being
children <5 years old. - Understanding/knowing early symptoms in
oThe populations most at risk include infants, children pediatric patients, direct access for patients
under 5, pregnant women and those infected with in remote areas, starting medication during
HIV/AIDS (CDC, 2020). high risk seasons even without diagnoses.
oChildren are most at risk due to compromised immune
Tertiary- An intervention once the patient has
systems.
malaria.
oIn 2018, the total direct cost of malaria was
- Many African countries still struggle around
estimated at 12 billion USD (UNICEF, 2018).
o3.2 billion people continue to be at risk for issues of access to proper medications,
providing antimalarial medications, providing
contracting malaria (WHO, 2018).
antipyretics and ensuring child has adequate
hydration. Continued education is necessary
Transmission since there are several forms of malaria and
o Malaria occurs mainly in poor
anyone can be re-infected.
tropical and sub-tropical areas. Signs and Symptoms: Healthy People 2020: Includes many global
Many parts of Africa, mainly
Sub-Saharan, continue to be
Agent: Infected mosquito o The time from infection until symptoms appear can be 7- health initiatives including the reduction of
the most devastated due to 30 days (Stanford, 2020). malaria, TB, and vaccine preventable diseases.
weather and scarce resources o Symptoms come in “cycles”. Children often present first
(CDC, 2020). References:
o Bites from the female with (Dowshen, 2017): CDC - Malaria - About Malaria - FAQs. (2020, February 12). Retrieved
from https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html
Anopheles species causes o Irritability, lack of appetite and poor sleep. CDC - Malaria - Malaria Worldwide - Impact of Malaria. (2020,
malaria. o Second, a high grade fever (over 104F) will appear February 25). Retrieved March 10, 2020, from

Malaria
o The most lethal transmission https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/malaria_worldwide/impact.html
with chills. Dowshen, S. (Ed.). (2017, October). Malaria (for Parents) - Nemours
occurs through infected bites KidsHealth. Retrieved March 1, 2020, from
from the P.falciparum mosquito.
o Lastly, the body temp returns back to normal. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/malaria.html
o Most humans develop an o This occurs in 2-3 day “cycles”. Fact sheet about Malaria. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2020, from
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria
immunity to malaria after a o Certain strains of malaria can affect the brain, spleen Global Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2020, from
period of time but children https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/global-
present a great risk not having
and kidneys. health
Host: Humans Environment: Tropical o Other symptoms: nausea, body aches, headache and Malaria in Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2020, from
developed that immunity
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-health/malaria/
(WHO, 2020). anemia. . Types of Malaria Parasites . (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/primary-
care/malaria/types.html