Introduction
Diseases malaria is an infectious disease that is very common on several tropical regions of the planet. These diseases are spread by protozoan parasites which are conveyed by female mosquitoes. This disease has been considered by the World Health Organization as one of the most deadly diseases in the planet. It is preventable and treatable these days, but it is still causing casualties and complications to the society.
History
According to recent statistics and studies, there are more than one million cases of diseases malaria every year. Approximately 450 to 500 thousand of those cases have led to death. Nearly 90 percent of those cases came from the Sahara area of Africa. There are also 1,400 cases of malaria diseases in the United States of America per year.
Research and studies have confirmed that the earliest records of such diseases would date back to 2600 BC in China. The name of such disease was derived from malaria, which the Italian Medieval term of bad air.
Features
Causes of Diseases Malaria
Malaria is primarily caused by a parasite named Plasmodium. This parasite is conveyed by female mosquitoes and can be transmitted through their bite. There are five types of such parasite that include P. malaria, P. ovale, P. falciparum, P. knowlesi and P. vivax. The majority of malaria cases are caused by P. falciparum. These parasites will reproduce by laying its eggs once it enters your blood. These parasites will eat your red blood cells for them to survive in your body.
Preventions
• An individual travelling to certain areas where malaria is active should take extra precautions to prevent contracting them. Sahara Africa, India and South America are the regions where there are higher risks of acquiring them. You should bring antimalarial drugs, insecticides and bed nets whenever you are travelling in these regions.
• Check for early symptoms and signs for these diseases. This disease usually has flu like symptoms such as chills, fever, fatigue and cough. It can also involve diarrhea, jaundice, headache and nausea. Any consolidation of these symptoms should be monitored closely.
• Proceed to hospitalization and medication whenever these symptoms would appear. Untreated symptoms of such diseases can lead to other deadly complications. These symptoms can even lead to severe medical conditions and death.
• Children less than five years of age should be watched closely since they are more vulnerable than the adults are. Nearly 90 percent of deaths caused by such diseases happened to children. It is highly recommended to monitor your children when you are travelling to those areas.
• Wear long sleeves at night to prevent mosquito and insect bites while sleeping.
Medications
Active malaria can be treated with various drugs. The drug to be utilized for such diseases would vary depending on the situation of the patient. Test must be conducted to identify which drug should be utilized to treat diseases malaria.
• Melfloquine
• Quinine
• Chloroquine
• Atovaquone-proguanil
• Aartemisin derivatives
• Doxycycline
• Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
Tips and comments
These diseases have killed millions of lives since its earlier days of existence. Prompt and adequate treatments should be practiced whenever these symptoms would occur. Diseases malaria should be contained to avoid its severe medical complications.
