Mosquitoes and Malaria
The catchphrase “small but terrible” would aptly describe what mosquitoes are. These blood-sucking insects have caused millions of deaths all over the world. Some authorities even consider mosquitoes to be one of the most dangerous creatures on earth because they can transmit deadly diseases – the most common are dengue and malaria.
According to the World Malaria Report 2011, around 216 million malaria cases and an estimated 655,000 malaria deaths occurred in 2010. And the most vulnerable to malaria are people living in the poorest countries. Ninety percent (90%) of all Malaria deaths occurred in the African region, where the victims were mostly children under five years of age. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that malaria causes over 200 million cases of fever annually. The actual number of deaths may be significantly higher, as precise statistics are unavailable in many rural areas, and many cases are undocumented.
Cause and Symptoms
The term malaria originates from Medieval Italian: mala aria which means “bad air”; the disease was formerly called ague or marsh fever due to its association with swamps and marshland. Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium (a genus of Apicomplexan parasites which means it has a structure involved in penetrating a host’s cell). Infected mosquitoes are usually found and prevalent in tropical regions with high temperature and humidity. Stagnant waters are suitable breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
When the plasmodium parasite enters the human body, it attacks and multiplies in the liver. The parasite then infects the red blood cells spreading the disease. Malaria, if not treated immediately (within 24 hours), disrupts the circulation of blood supply in the vital organs, endangering the life of the victim.
A person infected by the disease will experience fever, chills, headache, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and will usually appear seven days or more (usually in 10 and 15 days) after the mosquito bite. However, these symptoms may be mild or difficult to distinguish. Symptoms may appear in cycles and may come and go at different intensities and for different lengths of time. The cyclic pattern of malaria symptoms is due to the life cycle of malaria parasites as they develop, reproduce, and are released from the red blood cells and liver cells in the human body. This cycle of symptoms is also one of the major indicators that you are infected with malaria.
Meanwhile for children with severe malaria, symptoms include severe anemia, respiratory distress in relation to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria, while adults will experience multi-organ involvement. In some cases, particularly in malaria endemic areas, persons may develop partial immunity, allowing them to be asymptomatic (not exhibiting any symptoms).
Transmission
Malaria is usually carried by an infective Anopheles (a female mosquito). Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous bite and blood meal from an infected person. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. About a week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito’s saliva and are injected into the person being bitten.
Since the malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood. Malaria may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn infant before or during delivery called “congenital” malaria.
In regions where malaria is present, people who get infected many times may have the disease but have few or no symptoms. Also, the severity of the malaria symptoms can vary depending on your general health, the kind of malaria parasite you have, and whether you still have your spleen (similar in structure to a large lymph node, the spleen acts primarily as a blood filter).
Protection and Prevention
Despite the incidence of Malaria disease in tropical countries, there are ways to help prevent it from spreading. The following are ways suggested by the WHO to reduce the transmission of Malaria in your community: (a) Use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and the (b) Indoor spraying with residual insecticides.
For personal protection, one should:
– Avoid mosquito bites particularly at twilight and at night, when they are usually out to feed.
– Apply mosquito repellentents. The most effective repellents contain DEET (diethyltoluamide) and are available in sprays, roll-ons, sticks and creams.
– Wear light-colored clothing that cover the legs and arms. Wear pants instead of shorts.
– Take preventive medicines appropriate to your country and individual circumstances.
– Practice general cleanliness and sanitation in your home and community by removing all stagnant water, garbage and possible mosquito breeding grounds in your area.
– See a doctor if you experience any of the malaria symptoms. Symptoms may appear long after you have been bitten, even up to a year.
Treatment
Treating malaria differs depending on how severe it is. It is important to take the correct drugs for each type of malaria. These medicines must be prescribed by a doctor. Those who are infected must also be treated immediately to prevent it from getting worse.
Meanwhile, people who are infected by P. falciparum malaria should be given immediate treatment, since this type of malaria causes death to most of its victims. For mild cases of Malaria, oral treatment is enough to control and eliminate the disease. However, those who have severe malaria require intravenous (IV) drug treatment or infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein, and fluids given at hospitals. Those who have severe malaria usually suffer from impaired consciousness/coma, severe anemia, renal failure, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, spontaneous bleeding, acidosis, repeated generalized convulsions, and other complications.
Knowing the cause of Malaria and ways to protect oneself against it can go a long way in helping stop the spread and proliferation this preventable disease.
___________________________________________
References:
New Partners Join the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN)
http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/country-profiles/profile_phl_en.pdf
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malaria/Pages/Prevention.aspx
Disclaimer. This website is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to render medical advice. Any information provided on HealthyLife Online should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you suspect a health problem, you should consult a medical professional or your health care provider. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you may have read on this website. The website does not recommend nor endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be referenced in the Website.