Malaria is one the most common diseases, especially in underdeveloped countries. It is a lethal infection caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. About 290 million humans suffer from malaria per year. And the average death record of malaria patients is 400,000 per year.
Malaria can be treated and prevented by taking some precautionary measures otherwise it can be deadly. The World Health Organization is working on eradicating it on a global level. With the advancement in the medical sector, WHO has also recommended proper malarial treatment systems for the young children in regions of the world that are most affected by malaria.
What Are The Causes Of Malaria?
It occurs from the biting of an infected mosquito. Plasmodium falciparum, P.malariae, P. vivax, and P. ovale are some of the common parasites that act as agents of malaria. The parasite that enters the body, stays and matures in the liver and then infection begins. It takes about 48-72 hours for these parasites to multiply and cause the infected red blood cells to burst open. The infection continues and the symptoms occur in the infected person within the next two to three days.
During birth, an infected woman can also pass the infection to the newborn, also called congenital malaria.
As blood is the common transmission route for malaria, it can also spread through a transfusion, a transplant, or by using medical supplies such as syringes.
What Are Its Common Symptoms?
Symptoms of malaria can vary from mild to strong depending upon the infection severity. Several other factors can affect the severity of the infection such as age, climate, existing medical conditions, etc. Symptoms start showing up from about ten to fourteen days after the infection occurs. Although sometimes the parasite can remain dormant in the liver for an extensive period.
Common symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, body pain, anemia, vomiting, excessive sweating, headaches. Moreover, coma, bloody stools, jaundice, convulsions, stomach ache, are also shown in certain individuals. Few patients may get a repeating cycle of attacks. In a malarial attack, the patients start shivering or experience chills, then come high fever, sweating, and at the end, the body goes back to its normal temperature.
Treatment And Preventive Measures
The treatment of malaria is extremely important otherwise it can lead to the death of the person. Basic treatment involves the medication prescribed by health experts. Medication depends on the severity of the infection. As sometimes the parasite shows drug resistance, several medications are administered altogether. There are hydroxychloroquine makers certified by governments who provide the drugs for the treatment and prevention of the disease.
For P. vivax and P. ovale, which can remain dormant in the liver, the patient is given treatment for a longer time as there is a chance that the infection can recur. Also, vaccines are now administered to children in areas with high risk. Special clothing, nets for beds, and insecticide sprays are done to prevent malaria.
Common In Underdeveloped Areas
Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in poor regions of the world. Children can experience cerebral malaria, anemia, and breathing disorders. About 70% of the dying children are under five years of age. As underdeveloped countries have poor infrastructure and health facilities, when the climate changes for malaria transmission, the prevention of the disease becomes very difficult.
Immunity plays a crucial role in fighting the disease. But in underdeveloped countries, people usually have a poor diet that further lowers their immunity levels. Thus the transmission rates are even higher. Although local people develop immunity over the years, it is still not possible to completely avoid the disease.
Malaria Is Expensive
A major reason why malaria is common in poor or underdeveloped countries is because of the rapid increase in drug costs that both ends, people, and governments have to face for treatment. Malaria affects about 58% of the poor population in nearly 20% of the underdeveloped countries. These affect buying medicines, their maintenance and provision, and training staff in health care centers. Also, the extra costs of burial expenditures and economic loss during a malaria outbreak cannot be ignored.
All these factors together make it quite difficult for governments and people to completely eradicate malaria, especially in poor underdeveloped countries. Even if the costs are covered somehow, it is still a leading cause of death because people still don’t have basic health care facilities in these countries.
