Symptoms of Malaria - Coursework Example

?All about Malaria Introduction Malaria is a serious infection caused by the bite of mosquitoes. The parasite that causes malaria is known as Plasmodium. When an infected mosquito bites man Plasmodium is transmitted to the individual’s body and cumulates in number. The multiplication of these parasites takes place in liver and there after infects red blood cells. Though the normal way of malaria transmission is through mosquito bite, in rare case it is caused by transfusion of blood and from a pregnant mother to fetus (Griffith 2006, p. 451). As studies indicate (Rietveld & Schlagenhauf 2008, p.214), malaria produces more complications in pregnant women and young children because these groups are more vulnerable to malaria. If diagnosis for this infection is not done at proper time, it may lead to disastrous results. The disease is said to have supplied by chimpanzees and gorillas to mankind. The comparative lack of genetic variations in plasmodium falciparum also testifies that it has the recent origin from some other primate species (ibid). How malaria is caused Normally this disease is transmitted to people by a certain kind of female mosquito called Anopheles. These parasites are usually found in the saliva of the female mosquitoes of this type. As described by Jacoby and Youngson (2004 p. 1123), when a person is bitten by a female mosquito, the parasite enters the bloodstream through the mosquito’s saliva and makes their way to the liver. Initially, they cause no troubles, but the infected liver then gets damaged releasing merozoites that badly affect the red blood cells (ibid). The multiplying parasites eventually cause the signs of malaria in the host. As stated above, the parasite that causes malaria is called a plasmodium. Typically, there are four different species that cause this disease in man. They are plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium malariae, plasmodium vivax and plasmodium ovale. Among them, the most dangerous one is plasmodium falciparum as it causes most serious complications and often becomes fatal. The rests are less malignant that cause severe fever at alternative intervals. Another peculiar characteristic of these non falciparum parasites is that they may get into the liver and be inactive for long; and the disease will be caused long after original infection (ibid). The different phases of communication and the life cycle of malaria parasites in the human body are illustrated in figure 1. (Figure 1: Source: Davis & Shiel, n.d.) Symptoms of Malaria If a person is affected with malaria, the signs will be visible from ten to twenty eight days of the mosquito bite. The first sign will be tiredness and loss of liveliness. The affected person will have continuous muscle pain and pain in the joints. Some other symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, nausea and diarrhea. The symptoms also include shivering and fever, heavy sweating and fall in temperature. As Ichhpujani and Bhatia (2002 p. 98) points out, Blackwater fever is another complication of malaria in which red blood cells break and release hemoglobin directly into the blood. Cotter (2001, p.39) finds that hemolysis, which is the phenomenon of red blood cell breakage, is the direct cause of Blackwater fever. The most alarming factor about malaria is that the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines. Malaria Diagnosis It is a hard task to diagnose malaria with the clinical criteria as the general symptoms of malaria such as fever and headache are common to a number of illnesses. Therefore, in highly industrialized countries where malaria is rarely reported, physicians have to order special test to identify the presence of malaria. The widely used method of malaria diagnosis test is the Giems blood smear on a microscope slide that is discolored to show the parasites that have got into the red blood cells. The slide of such a blood smear showing Plasmodium parasites are pictorially represented in figure 2. (Figure 2: Source: Jacoby & Younson, 2004.). Though this test is comparatively easy, the accurate result depends upon the expertise of the person who attends and administers the test. In addition to this, there are some other tests also to diagnose malaria. They are, Rapid Diagnostic Test and Polymerase Chain Reaction Test. However, these tests are too costly for common people to afford and hence not widely used. Vaccines used to treat malaria Currently there are no specific vaccines available for the prevention of malaria. As Jacoby, and Youngson (2004, p. 1121) reminds, malaria is not like any other common virus against which our body can produce antibodies as a result of vaccination; and since the parasite causing malaria goes through many different stages, it is impossible to produce vaccines for all of them. However, Quinine and Chloroquine are the best known drugs used to prevent malaria. Quinine is prescribed by doctors to treat mild cases of malaria. Quinine works by killing the parasite that causes the blood infection (Monson, 2010). Quinine is available in capsules and is taken every eight hours for consecutive seven days. The dosage depends on whether the patient has kidney disease or not. Possible side effects of Quinine use include sweating, dizziness, and headache. However, the patient himself can treat the side effects (ibid). Chloroquine also is often used as a preventive medicine and is taken two weeks before the anticipated exposure. This medicine is available in tablets and is distributed only on the prescription of the Doctors. The possible side effects include diarrhea, dangerous skin reactions, and damage to eyes. Though it involves a number of side effects, they are not severe and needs no treatment or can be treated by the patient himself (ibid). Malarone is yet another medicine used to prevent malaria. It contains two different types of anti malarial medication. It comes in the form of tablets and is generally taken once a day. The possible side effects of this medicine include stomach pain, vomiting, and headache. Malarone prevents Plasmodium parasites from copying nucleic acid. Prevention of malaria Studies conducted by various bodies affirm that the number of people fall victim to malaria is precariously huge. In an industrially developed country like the UK, evidently it is not the domestic conditions that cause Malaria. Instead, as people travel to various places outside the UK, which are less hygiene, they are likely to be affected by Plasmodium parasites. The figure 3 depicts the death due to malaria in the UK from 1991 to 2010. (Figure 3: Source: Health Protection Agency, 2010) Conclusion Thus, malaria is a life threatening disease caused by parasites which are spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Though often becomes fatal, it is preventable and curable. Evidently, it is the filthy surroundings that help the growth of mosquitoes. So, the people living in slums of under developed countries are the main victims of this disease. Hopefully, the campaigns on malaria prevention and control have reduced the burden of malaria dramatically in almost all the developing and under developed countries. Since there are no stipulated vaccines to address malaria, eradication of mosquitoes is the best preventive measure. References Cotter, S.M. 2001. Hematology. USA: Teton New Media. Davis, CP & Shiel, WC., n.d. Plasmodium malaria and plasmodium falciparum parasites, MedicineNet.com, [Online] Available at: [Accessed 29 March 2012]. Griffith, HW., 2006. Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness & Surgery, USA: The Berkley Publishing Group. Health Protection Agency., 2012. Imported malaria cases and deaths, United Kingdom: 1991 – 2010, [Online] Available at: [Accessed 29 March 2012]. Ichhpujani, R.L & Bhatia, R. 2002. Medical Parasitology. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Publishers. Jacoby, DB & Youngson, RM., 2004. Malarial areas of the world, In Encyclopedia of Family Health, New York: Marshall Cavendish. Jacoby, DB & Younson, RM., 2004. Malarial areas of the world. In Encyclopedia of Family Health, New York: Marshall Cavendish. Monson, K., 2010. Quinine, Med TV, [Online] Available at: [Accessed 29 March 2012]. Monson, K., 2010. Chloroquine, Med TV, [Online] Available at: < http://malaria.emedtv.com/chloroquine/chloroquine.html> [Accessed 29 March 2012]. Monson, K., 2011. Malarone, Med TV, [Online] Available at: [Accessed 29 March 2012]. Rietveld, A.E.C & Schlagenhauf, LP. 2008. Special Groups: Pregnant women, infants and young children, Travelers’ malaria. USA: BC Decker Inc. Read More