Malaria
General Information
About three point two billion people are at risk of getting malaria. This is about half of the world’s population. The term "malaria" came from the Italian word, 'mal-aria" which means “bad air" because malaria was thought to be transmitted through the bad wind from swamps and rivers.
Malaria is disease which is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. There are four types of parasites that can transmit malaria which are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium ovale. Once the parasite Plasmodium, is transmitted through mosquito bites, those parasites multiply in the host's liver. After these parasites multiply, they start to infect and destroy red blood cells in the host’s body. When the mosquito that has the parasite bites again, the parasites are injected and pass into another person’s body. This is the transmission cycle of malaria. Also, if a non-infected mosquito feeds on an infected person, it recieves malaria parasite and pass on the parasite to other people.
About three point two billion people are at risk of getting malaria. This is about half of the world’s population. The term "malaria" came from the Italian word, 'mal-aria" which means “bad air" because malaria was thought to be transmitted through the bad wind from swamps and rivers.
Malaria is disease which is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. There are four types of parasites that can transmit malaria which are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium ovale. Once the parasite Plasmodium, is transmitted through mosquito bites, those parasites multiply in the host's liver. After these parasites multiply, they start to infect and destroy red blood cells in the host’s body. When the mosquito that has the parasite bites again, the parasites are injected and pass into another person’s body. This is the transmission cycle of malaria. Also, if a non-infected mosquito feeds on an infected person, it recieves malaria parasite and pass on the parasite to other people.
Symptoms and Treatments:
The symptom of malaria appear about seven days after the infective mosquito bite. The first symptoms are fever, headache, chills and vomiting which may be mild so it is very hard to recognize as malaria. If they are not treated quickly enough, it can progress to severe illness, which often leads to death. The treatment of malaria differ depending on its type and severeness. Overall the most important treatment of malaria is to eliminate the Plasmodium parasite quickly and completely from the patient’s blood. If this is not done quickly enough, it can progress to severe disease or death and other infections such as malaria-related anaemia. Malaria can be treated if it is diagnosed early. However, most of the time, malaria outbreak occurs in areas where medical supplies and facilities lack. In these places, it is difficult to diagnose and treat quickly. |
Effects
Africa is the most affected continent by malaria. The main reason is that there are many mosquitoes in Africa that transmits malaria. Humid and high temperature weather, allow the outbreak of the disease to occur. Another reason why Africa is the most affected is because of limited resources and inefficient treatment system due to the economic instability.
Young children, pregnant women, travelers, or migrants from other countries are the most affected because they have no or less immune system for infectious diseases.
Malaria has many effects on both individuals and the whole society.
Costs to individuals and their families
Costs to governments
Africa is the most affected continent by malaria. The main reason is that there are many mosquitoes in Africa that transmits malaria. Humid and high temperature weather, allow the outbreak of the disease to occur. Another reason why Africa is the most affected is because of limited resources and inefficient treatment system due to the economic instability.
Young children, pregnant women, travelers, or migrants from other countries are the most affected because they have no or less immune system for infectious diseases.
Malaria has many effects on both individuals and the whole society.
Costs to individuals and their families
- Purchase of drugs for treating malaria
- Money for traveling and treatments at clinics
Costs to governments
- Maintenance such as supply and staffing of health facilities
- Purchase of drugs and supplies
- Public health meditation against malaria, such as insecticide spraying or distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets
Important Discoveries on Malaria:
Sir Ronald Ross
Ronald Ross, a British officer in the Indian Medical Service, was the first person to show that malaria parasites could be transmitted from infected patients to mosquitoes in 1897. He solved the problem of malaria transmission, and won a nobel prize in 1902. |
Dr. Tu Youyou
In 2015, scientists from China won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for discoveries that helped doctors fight malaria and other infections caused by roundworm parasites. "Traditional Chinese medicine uses sweet wormwood to treat fever. In the 1970s, after studies of traditional herbal medicines, Youyou Tu managed to extract a substance, artemisinin, which inhibits the malaria parasite. Drugs based on artemisinin have led to the survival and improved health of millions of people." (Nobelprize.org, 2015). |
Prevention:
To prevent getting malaria, it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites and take antimalarial medicine. However, it is strongly recommended that young children, pregnant women, and people with less immune system should avoid traveling to places where malaria outbreak occur.
To prevent getting malaria, it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites and take antimalarial medicine. However, it is strongly recommended that young children, pregnant women, and people with less immune system should avoid traveling to places where malaria outbreak occur.