A female Anopheles mosquito carrying parasites can bite a human, causing malaria, a potentially fatal illness. Malaria continues to pose a serious health threat in many regions of the world even with notable advancements in its control.
Reasons and Mode of Transmission
Plasmodium parasites are the source of malaria. Human malaria is caused by five different parasite species, of which Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax represent the biggest threats.
- Plasmodium falciparum: The most lethal species, mainly found in Africa.
- Plasmodium vivax: Often found in Asia and South America, responsible for recurrent episodes of malaria.
- Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium knowlesi: Less frequent species with differing geographic distributions and severity levels.
Life Cycle of Malaria Parasite
The malaria parasite has two hosts in its life cycle: people and mosquitoes.
Infection of the Human Host
- Sporozoites: A human is injected with sporozoites into their circulation when they are bitten by an infected insect. After arriving in the liver, these sporozoites infect the liver cells.
- Stage of the Liver: The parasites develop in the liver, where they finally rupture liver cells and discharge merozoites into the circulation.
- Stage of Blood: Merozoites multiply after infecting red blood cells and spread their infection to new red blood cells. The malarial symptoms are brought on by this stage.
Transmission to Mosquitoes
- An infected human is bitten by another mosquito, which then consumes the parasites along with the blood.
- Stage of the Mosquito: The parasites continue to grow inside the mosquito until they become sporozoites, which are prepared to infect a fresh human host when the insect feeds once more.
Symptoms
Symptoms of malaria often manifest 10–15 days following a mosquito bite. Depending on the species of Plasmodium involved, there can be differences in the type and intensity of symptoms. The following are typical symptoms along with the stages they usually follow:
First Signs and Symptoms
- Fever: Usually high and sporadic.
- Shivering: Accompanied by chills.
- Sweating: Comes on after chills and fever.
- Headache: Usually quite bad.
- Fatigue: A generalised sense of weakness and exhaustion.
- Myalgia: Muscle pain, especially in the limbs and back.
- Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhea.
Malaria Symptom Stages
Stage Cold
- Feeling of extreme cold.
- Chills and shivering.
- Pale complexion and a quick heartbeat.
Warm Up Stage
- High fever, with occasional peaks of 40°C (104°F).
- Flushed skin.
- Severe headache.
- Rapid heart rate and breathing.
Stage of Sweating
- Heavy perspiration.
- The fever starts to go down.
- A strong sense of exhaustion.
- Return of the temperature to normal.
Complications
- Extreme anaemia
- Breathing difficulties
- Cerebral malaria, which impacts the brain
- Organ malfunction
Diagnosis
A precise diagnosis is essential to a successful malaria treatment plan. Among the diagnostic techniques are:
- Microscopic Analysis: To find malaria parasites, a blood smear is examined under a microscope.
- Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs): These assays identify particular antigens for malaria in a subject’s blood.
Treatment
The species of the malaria parasite producing the illness, the intensity of the symptoms, and the severity of the infection all influence how the disease is treated. This is a broad summary:
Antibodies that Fight Malaria
- Chloroquine: Effective against certain strains of Plasmodium malariae as well as Plasmodium vivax and ovale. Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is widespread.
- Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs): For simple falciparum malaria, ACTs are advised as the initial line of treatment. Artemether-lumefantrine, artesunate-amodiaquine, and other combinations are examples. ACTs are quite successful and well-liked.
- Other Medications: Mefloquine, doxycycline, and primaquine are examples of additional medications that may be administered in specific patients, depending on resistance patterns and other considerations.
Treatment Guidelines
Depending on the geography and the frequency of drug-resistant strains, different treatment guidelines may apply. It’s critical to abide by regional policies or those advised by health organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Severe Malaria
Hospitalisation and intravenous antimalarial medication, usually with artesunate, are necessary for severe malaria. It’s also critical to take other supportive actions, such as controlling complications like cerebral malaria or renal failure.
Prevention
Preventive measures against malaria include the use of bed nets coated with insecticide, indoor residual insecticide spraying, and chemoprophylaxis for visitors to endemic regions.
Prevention and Control
Malaria prevention involves a variety of tactics:
- Vector Control: To lessen mosquito bites, use indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).
- Preventive Medications: For pregnant women in high-risk areas and for visitors to countries where malaria is endemic.
- Environmental Management: Reducing standing water sources to lessen mosquito breeding grounds.
Global Impact and Efforts
Sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest prevalence of malaria, which is prevalent in several regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Malaria prevention initiatives include:
- Global Initiatives: To lower the incidence and death of malaria, groups including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, and the Global Fund are actively engaged in this effort.
- Research and Development: The goal of ongoing research is to create vaccinations, drugs, and vector control techniques that are more effective.
Conclusion
Malaria, which mostly affects areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, continues to be a serious worldwide health concern. Malaria continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality despite improvements in control strategies, such as vector control, prophylactic drugs, and the discovery of medicines like artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs). To further lessen the impact of this illness, global health organisations must keep up their efforts in addition to continuous research into vaccinations and cutting-edge therapies. Effective preventative measures, in addition to prompt diagnosis and suitable treatment, are still essential in the fight against malaria.
