Malaria
POSTED August 23, 2010 - 16:56 | POSTED BY Anonymous
Last edited by Rakhi on August 23, 2010 - 16:58
Malaria, a vector (an organism that does not cause disease itself but transmits infection from one host to another) borne is caused by the malarial parasite plasmodium. The carrier, the infective female anopheles mosquito, transmits the infection to humans via its bites.
Causes
Malaria is caused by a protozoan (single-celled) parasite, called the plasmodium. While over 200 species in the plasmodium genus are recognized, only 4 are known can infect humans namely, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae). The 4 together are referred to as the malarial parasites.
The transmitter (the female anopheles mosquito) picks up the infection from a human already infected with the disease. The mosquito ingests a form of the parasite called gametocytes. Once entering the mosquito, the plasmodium completes its remaining part of the life cycle inside the mosquito. Eventually making its way to the salivary glands, the mosquito injects the parasite into the bloodstream of the person whom it bites next.
An infected pregnant mother also transmits the infection to her unborn baby. Blood transfusion using infected blood is also a possible source.
Prevention
While there's no effective vaccine against the disease, keeping off the vector is the key. The diseases’ transmission can be checked by preventing mosquito bites. Using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, insect repellents, mosquito control measures such as spraying insecticides and draining away standing water (where mosquitoes lay their eggs) are effective.
Symptoms:
The disease typically prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions is marked by recurrent alternate episodes of chills and profuse sweat. Other signs of the disease include high fever, overall feeling of unease and discomfort, headache, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.
The symptoms usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If left untreated, parasites reproduce in the liver, infecting the red blood cells and vital body organs. The infection can cause serious, potentially life-threatening health issues.
Cures:
The treatment of the disease depends upon the vector. While malaria infections passed on by a Plasmodium falciparum is medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization, Infection from Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae are often treated as an outpatient infection.
Although prevention is the best cure, the infection once acquired is usually treated using antimalarial drugs, such as quinine or artemisinin derivatives.
