What is Malaria and how it is caused?

What is Malaria?

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by a eukaryotic protist of the genus Plasmodium or a mosquito. There are millions of cases of Malaria every year. It is most common in America, Asia and Africa. Download malaria ppt presentation by clicking here.

There are five species Plasmodium which can infect human body. They are as follows:-

·         Plasmodium falciparum

·         Plasmodium vivax

·         Plasmodium ovale

·         Plasmodium malariae

·         Plasmodium knowlesi

Plasmodium falciparum is the most serious one as compared to all the above species of plasmodium. You can get more about plasmodium in lots of malaria PowerPoint (ppt) presentations.

Causes of Malaria

In humans malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi. Most common cause of malaria is Plasmodium falciparum it is responsible for around 80 % of the malaria patients and 90 % death cases of malaria. Other species of plasmodium also infect human body but not as much as Falciparum.

Transmission of Malaria

Malaria is naturally transmitted by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken, which contains malaria parasites. These develop within the mosquito, and about one week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, the parasites are injected with the mosquito's saliva into the person being bitten. After a period of between two weeks and several months (occasionally years) spent in the liver, the malaria parasites start to multiply within red blood cells, causing symptoms that include fever, and headache. In severe cases the disease worsens leading to hallucinations, coma, and death. Malaria is also transmitted by following factors:-

·         Blood transfusion

·         Using tainted needles or syringes

·         Organ transplant

Signs and Symptoms of Malaria

·         Fever with chills

·         Nausea

·         Headache

·         Vomiting

·         Anemia / Jaundice

·         Arthralgia (joint pain)

·         Retinal Damage

·         Shivering

·         Renal Failure

·         Haemoglobinuria

·         Fatigue and muscular pains

All above are the common symptoms and signs of Malaria. But it differs from person to person and there is also other lot of complicated or clinical symptoms of Malaria. Get more information on malaria symptoms and treatment ppt by clicking here.

Treatment of Malaria 

The following are some Antimalarial drugs

·         Quinine

·         Chloroquine

·         Mefloquine

·         Antibiotics eg doxycycline, clindamycin, azithromycin

Other than these there are lots of drugs available for the patients suffering from malaria. It’s better to take the dose of medicines under the doctor’s consultant as malaria is an acute disease. These medicines are given according to the age group.

How Malaria can be prevented?

Malaria transmission can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites by distribution of inexpensive mosquito nets and insect repellents, or by mosquito-control measures such as spraying insecticides inside houses and draining standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs.