Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious disease, caused by a eukaryotic protest of genus plasmodium.
It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the America, Asia and Africa. Each year, there are approximately 350-500 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people , the majority of whom are young children. Ninety percent of malaria related cases occur in sub-saharan Africa. Where Nigeria is recorded one of the countries that has high number of morality as the result of malaria. Recently, research has proved that one in every 8 dwellers in Akwa ibom state, both indigene and non is infected with malaria plasmodium, due to the environmental condition of the state. It is commonly associated with poverty, but it is also the cause of poverty and a major hindrance to economic development.
Five species of the plasmodium parasite can infect humans; the most serious form of the disease are caused by plasmodium falciparum. Malaria caused by plasmodium vivax, plasmodium ovale and plasmodium malariae usually caused a milder disease in humans that is not generally fatal.
Following the infective bite by the female anopheles mosquito , a period of incubation time goes by, before the first symptom appears. The incubation period in most varies from 7 to 30 days. The shorter period are observed frequently with plasmodium falciparum and the longer ones with plasmodium malariae.
Antimalarial drug taken for prophylaxis can delay the appearance of malaria symptoms by weeks or months, long after a period of time when the drug is no more taken, the malaria symptoms will manifest.
The classical ( but rarely observed) malaria attack lasts 6-10 hour. It consists of a cold stage ( sensation of cold shivering), a hot stage fever , headache, vomiting, seizures in young temperature, tiredness. The attack occur every second day with the “tertain” parasites.
More commonly, the patient presents with a combination of these following symptoms: fever, chills, sweats, headaches , nausea, and vomiting, body aches, and general malasise . In a societies where the case of malaria are frequent, these symptoms may be attributed to influenza, cold or other common infections especially if malaria is not suspected. Conversely in societies where malaria is frequent, residents usually recognize the symptoms as malaria and treat themselves without diagnostic confirmation ( presumptive treatment). Physical findings of this include elevated temperature, perspiration, weakness, enlarged spleen, mild jaundice enlargement of the liver and increased respiratory rate. Symptoms diagnosis could be through; microscopic examination of blood films and diagnosis of malaria depend on the demonstration of parasites in the blood.
Severe malaria occurs when infectious are complicated by serious organ failures or abnormalities in the patient’s blood or metabolism. The manifestation of severe malaria include: cerebral malaria, with abnormal behavior, impairment of consciousness, seizures, coma, or other neurologic abnormalities, severe anemia due to hemolysis (destruction of the red blood cells), hemoglobinuria ( hemoglobin in the urine) due to hemolysis. This kind of malaria is medical emergency and should be treated urgently and aggressively.
Certainly, there is no anti malaria drug that is 100% protective, as such it must be combined with the use of personal protective measures. These include insects repelled, long sleeves, sleeping mosquito free setting , using insecticide treated bed net.long lasting mosquito net which releases insecticide for approximately 5year, and cost about 5.50 U.S dollars ( N850), is recommended for usage. Staying in a well kept mosquito free environment, is pertinent in the battle of exposing the secrete of malaria.
However, it could be treated with anti malaria drugs. In order for it to be properly treated it is better the patient visit a health care provider for proper management of the case.
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