The Menace called Malaria: An Expose
July 17th 2008 17:28
The Malaria Parasite's Life Cycle
According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 515 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in Sub- Saharan Africa. Due to the nature of the pre-disposing factors, malaria is commonly reffered to as a disease of poverty although medical economics have revealed that the infection itself, can lead to poverty and economic underdevelopment, two issues that Sub- Saharan Africa is still contending with.
In terms of etiology, malaria is a protozoan infection caused by parasites that belong to the genus Plasmodium. And till date, only four species of the plasmodium parasite can infect humans; these are P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. falciparum.
Unlike other human infections that are preventable by vaccines, there is presently no generally approved vaccine for malaria prevention, globally while the available preventive measures are prophylactic drugs an insecticide treated nets.
The classical symptom of malaria is cyclical occurrence of sudden coldness followed by rigor and then fever and sweating lasting four to six hours, occurring every two days in P. vivax and P. ovale infections, while every three for P. malariae. It is worthy to note that the infection varies in severity due to so many factors hence necessitatig the need to go for regular medical check ups and tests when the body is showing signs that may suggest malaria.
In the hospital, microscopic exmaination of blood film is the preferred and generally accepted diagnostic tool in the affirmation of a provisional malaria diagnosis. The test is simple and the result could be gotten as soon as possible hence the need for individuals to present themselves for such.
Active malaria infection with P. falciparum is a medical emergency requiring hospitalization. Infection with P. vivax, P. ovale or P. malariae can often be treated on an outpatient basis. Treatment of malaria involves supportive measures as well as specific antimalarial drugs. When properly treated, someone with malaria can expect a complete recovery.
Malaria is easy to combat with the available range of drugs but may however turn stubborn if necessary precautions are not taken. A physcian's supervision, counselling and approval are very necesary in adequate malaria treatment to prevent a long term battle with resistance.
There are other control methods usually employed in the prevention of malaria, such methods include mosquito nets and bed clothes, prophylactic drugs, vector control and indoor residual spraying. These however, have their individual strong points, and short comings hence the need for adequate knowledge prior to adoption of any method. A control method that has been powerful, especially in Africa where the infection seems to have attained an endemic status, is education. When researches are made and the results are not communicated to members of the society to facilitate their adoption cum implementation, such researches cannot be described as successful, even when they have promising field results. When individuals are well informed, they tend to ask questions which is good for them and in most courses, adopt the new method.
The present available information on malaria are enough to keep individuals fit and malaria- free, if only they will co-operate and ahere to standard practices of malaria prevention, treatment and management.
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