MALARIA
Malaria disease is caused by a parasite called mosquito on human beings
What is Malaria?
Malaria disease is caused by a parasite called mosquito on
human beings. Malaria is a severe disease that sometimes results in an infected
individual's death if not treated. Several malaria parasites infect humans: Plasmodium vivax, plasmodium malaria,
plasmodium falciparum, and plasmodium Ovale. However, Plasmodium falciparum is the kind of
malaria infection that results in severe symptoms and may cause death if not
promptly treated. Even though malaria is one of the reported deadly diseases,
it can be prevented and cured.
In Kenya, about 11,000 new deaths and 3.5 million new
clinical cases of malaria infections are reported yearly. Similarly, in the United
States of America, about 2000-2,500 new cases of malaria are reported yearly.
However, reports show that most of these infections in the United States are of
immigrants, tourists, and travelers, especially those returning from South Asia
and sub-Saharan Africa.
From a Global perspective, the World Health Organization
(WHO) malaria report 2022 estimated 247 million clinical and 619,000 deaths. Sub-Saharan
Africa reckoned 96% of global deaths (primarily children) and 95% of the new
clinical cases.
Malaria Transmission
How do people get
malaria?
Often, humans get infected by malaria after being masticated
by a female Anopheles mosquito. It is
the only type of mosquito that can transmit malaria from an infected person to
another individual. When the mosquito bites the blood meal of an infected
person containing microscopic malaria parasites, these parasites mix with its
saliva. Sometimes later, when the mosquito bites the next blood meal, the
mixture of saliva and parasites are injected into the body of the bitten person.
Additionally, since malaria parasites are constituted in the red blood cells of
the infected individual, they can also be spread through sharing needles, organ
transplants, or blood transfusion with an infected person. Medical research also
shows malaria can be passed to an infant from her infected mother before or
during delivery.
Is malaria an
infectious disease?
NO. Malaria is neither a contracted nor contagious disease.
It is neither sexually transmitted nor transmitted from sitting next to a
malaria-infected individual.
Who is at risk?
No specific group is at risk of getting malaria; anyone can be infected. Global malaria reports show that most
malaria cases are reported from countries with malaria infections-there is
yearly replication of malaria. Therefore people living in such countries or
those migrating and travelling from these countries are at a higher risk of
getting malaria.
Signs, Symptoms, and
Prognosis
Symptoms/how do I
know that I have malaria
·
Fever
·
Headache
·
Muscle and joint aches
·
Vomiting
·
Nausea
·
Tiredness
·
sweats
If not diagnosed early
·
Anemia
·
Kidney failure
·
Mental distortion
·
Coma
·
Death
In most cases, symptoms appear eight days to 4 weeks after
being infected. Despite some individuals may experience symptoms a year later.
Preventive measures
·
Treatment with antimalarial drugs to denature
the malaria parasites
·
Sleeping under treated mosquito nets
·
Using mosquito repellants
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