The Fight Against Malaria: Don't Let It Win! | Malaria Treatment | About Malaria Disease
Introduction
Millions of people worldwide suffer from malaria, a potentially fatal illness. It is brought on by a parasite that mosquitoes spread. In addition to a fever, headache, chills, and vomiting, severe instances of malaria can result in organ failure, coma, or even death. Despite being both preventable and curable, malaria continues to be a major obstacle to global health and development. In this paper, I'll talk about what malaria is, how it affects people, its causes, how to prevent it, how to treat it, and why we should keep up the fight against it.
The Meaning of Malaria
Plasmodium is a genus of single-celled bacteria that causes the disease malaria. The five Plasmodium species that can infect people are P. knowlesi, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. falciparum. P. vivax is the most frequent species outside of Africa, whereas P. falciparum is the deadliest and most prevalent in that continent. Through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, the parasites are transmitted to humans.
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Data on the Effects of Malaria
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there will be 247 million malaria cases worldwide in 2021. 619 000 people were thought to have died from malaria in 20212. A disproportionately large amount of the worldwide malaria burden is placed on the WHO African Region. 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths occurred in the Region in 2021. In the region, 80% of all malaria deaths were in children under the age of five. Additionally, the economic and social effects of malaria on impacted nations and communities are profound. It hinders progress, lowers production, raises poverty, and interferes with education.
Reasons for malaria
The Plasmodium parasites, which are spread by mosquitoes, are what cause malaria. When a mosquito bites a person, the parasites go from the mosquito's saliva into the human bloodstream. The liver is the next stop for the parasites, where they develop and reproduce. They eventually exit the liver and infect the red blood cells, where they keep growing and causing symptoms. The following are some elements that raise the likelihood of malaria transmission:
Parasites Spread by Mosquitoes
Mosquito populations that transmit Plasmodium parasites are influenced by factors in the environment, including temperature, humidity, rainfall, vegetation, and human activity. In sources of stagnant water like ponds, puddles, rice fields, or containers, mosquitoes can grow. When the weather is favourable for them, such as at night and during particular seasons, mosquitoes are more active.
Unclean Living Circumstances
Less access to preventive measures like insecticide-treated bed nets or repellents means that people who live in squalid or overcrowded surroundings are more susceptible to mosquito bites. Additionally, they could only have limited access to sanitary facilities and clean water, which might raise the risk of contracting additional diseases that can make malaria worse.
Poverty
Malaria has poverty as both a cause and a result. People's access to or ability to pay for health care services, preventative measures, or antimalarial medications may be hampered by poverty. In addition to lowering immunity and nutrition, poverty can also increase a person's susceptibility to malaria infection and its sequelae.
Vaccines for Malaria
By avoiding mosquito bites and using preventative medications, malaria can be avoided. The following are some techniques for avoiding mosquito bites:
Use of Bed Nets Treated with Pesticide
Bed nets are nets that enclose sleeping spaces and shield individuals from mosquito bites at night. Insecticide-treated bed nets can kill or deter mosquitoes and shorten their life span. Children under the age of five and pregnant women are particularly in need of bed nets since they are more susceptible to malaria.
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Pesticides are Sprayed.
Mosquitoes that enter or rest within buildings can be killed or driven away by spraying pesticides on walls or inside buildings. Spraying needs to be done often and in accordance with safety regulations.
Fogging
Insecticides can be applied via the fogging technique, which can cover huge areas both indoors and outside. Mosquitoes that are flying or resting in the area can be killed or driven away by fogging.
Medications for Malaria
Antimalarial medications that can either kill the parasites in the blood or inhibit their growth can treat malaria. The choice of antimalarial medications is based on the nature and severity of the infection, the patient's age and weight, if she is pregnant, and the parasite's level of treatment resistance. Common antimalarial medications include:
Antimalarial Medication Usage
Drugs known as antimalarials can be used to treat or prevent malaria. They function by destroying the Plasmodium parasites in the blood or liver or by preventing their proliferation. Chloroquine, quinine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine, atovaquone, proguanil, pyrimethamine, sulfonamides, artemisinin and its derivatives, halofantrine, lumefantrine, doxycycline, and clindamycin are a few examples of antimalarial medications.
Medicines that Remove Parasites
Antimalarial medications known as "parasite-clearing agents" work quickly to remove parasites from the blood and lessen malaria symptoms and effects. They are also known as fast-acting medications or blood schizonticides. Quinine, halofantrine, lumefantrine, and artemisinin and its derivatives are a few examples of medications that eliminate parasites.
Conclusion
Millions of people all over the world suffer from the severe illness known as malaria. It is brought on by a parasite that mosquitoes spread. In addition to a fever, headache, chills, and vomiting, severe instances of malaria can result in organ failure, coma, or even death. Despite being both preventable and curable, malaria continues to be a major obstacle to global health and development.
The prevention of mosquito bites, use of preventive medications, prompt and effective diagnosis and treatment of malaria, monitoring and management of drug resistance, creation of new tools and interventions, and improvement of health systems and surveillance are just a few of the strategies used to combat malaria.
