Malaria

Malaria

Malaria is a potentially fatal illness of tropical and subtropical regions. The disease is caused by a parasite which is transmitted to human beings bitten by infected mosquitoes. The disease is widespread in Africa, and over one million people die of malaria every year on the continent.

Symptoms of malaria may include a generalized body ache, tiredness, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, and fever. It is worth mentioning that these symptoms may not be dramatic, and can easily be mistaken for an attack of influenza or similar non-life threatening illness. A decline can then be sudden and dramatic, with a rapid increase in the number of parasites in the victim's blood stream. A high wavering fever may develop, with shivering and dramatic perspiration.

Complications of a serious nature, such as involvement of the kidneys or brain may then follow. Cerebral malaria is extremely serious, with the victim becoming delirious and entering a coma. Cerebral malaria is frequently fatal, and it is extremely important that all suspected cases of malaria should receive medical attention as soon as is possible. All persons possibly exposed to malaria that develop any influenza like illness or fever within seven days of entering, or three months of departing a malarious area should seek medical attention, and have blood tests taken to check for possible malaria infection. It is preferable for such blood tests to be taken during a bout of fever. It may be sensible to have a second blood test taken if a first test is negative for malaria, to be certain of excluding the disease.

Other than Aids, malaria is the only disease that has been diffusing. There is no single cure for malaria and the establishment of a successful vaccine is measured to be ages away. Malaria is caused by areas with difficult conditions, such as agriculture, people living in the poverty line and climatic change.

Irrigation is carried out for the intensification of agriculture because of which there is an increase in the breeding of mosquitoes and enhancement of malaria without any role of chloroquine resistance in malaria parasite involved. Another reason could be the poorly designed DDT supplies which might not be sufficient and effective enough. Labor migration and modern transportation also plays tremendous roles in spreading and introducing malaria to other areas. Also with the more utilization of lands and building projects, there is lesser importance given to ground water control which can be one of the reasons behind malaria in urban areas.

People that live in the poverty line are the ones at the highest risk of being infected with malaria and a lot more frequently as compared to the relatively richer population. One of the main reasons behind it would be low income, which would hinder them from getting access to health facilities; they would live in poor housing which would not protect