Malaria : Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Health Lav89 - Malaria : Causes, Symptoms and Treatment. Malaria is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes caused by parasitic protozoa with the type of Plasmodium. Symptoms of general malaria are fever and pain such as having a cold. The symptoms of malaria should not be regarded as the common cold because it can have dangerous effects. If not handled quickly and accurately, the symptoms of malaria that appear can cause severe complications that can lead to death.
Malaria is a disease of life-threatening red blood cells that are transmitted to humans by the Anopheles mosquito. After humans are bitten by mosquitoes, these malaria-causing parasites multiply in the human heart before infecting and destroying red blood cells.
Malaria is a disease that can be controlled and treated if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, this is not possible in some areas of the world lacking in medical facilities, where an outbreak of malaria can occur. At this time, the vaccine for this disease is still not found. Knowing the symptoms of malaria is one way to prevent malaria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted to reduce malaria cases and deaths by 90% by 2030. Malaria was first discovered to be a parasitic disease in 1880.
An estimated 3.3 billion people in 97 countries are at risk of malaria, almost half of the world's population. The incidence rate of malaria is estimated to have fallen 30% globally in 2000-2013, while the mortality rate due to malaria symptoms is estimated to decrease by 47% worldwide.
Causes of Malaria
The cause of malaria is the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, which is contained in the body of the Plasmodium parasite. Anopheles are the only mosquitoes that can transmit malaria parasites.
The success of malaria-causing parasites to develop in the mosquito's body depends on several factors, especially the humidity and temperature of the mosquito.
When infected mosquitoes bite humans, malaria-causing parasites enter the bloodstream, and become active in the liver. For the next 5-16 days after being bitten, a bitten human will begin to show symptoms.
New malaria parasites are then released back into the bloodstream from the liver to red blood cells and begin to multiply. Some of these malaria-causing parasites remain in the heart and are not released in time. When released at the appointed time, that is what is called recurrence.
There are more than 100 types of Plasmodium, but scientists have identified five types of Plasmodium that are specifically capable of infecting humans:
The symptoms of malaria or signs of malaria need to be known to anticipate and deal appropriately. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signs of malaria or malaria symptoms are classified into two categories, namely simple and heavy.
Uncomplicated malaria is diagnosed if there are symptoms of malaria without clinical or laboratory signs to show vital organ dysfunction. Individuals who suffer can experience severe malaria if this simple malaria is not treated, or if they are not immune to fight disease.
Severe malaria is defined by clinical or laboratory evidence of vital organ dysfunction or failure. This type tends to be fatal if left untreated. The general picture of malaria symptoms is:
Early diagnosis of malaria is very important for the treatment of malaria. Every individual who shows signs of malaria and symptoms of this disease must be tested immediately. WHO highly recommends parasitological examination with a microscope or rapid diagnostic test (RDT / rapid diagnostic test). The choice of this method, of course, depends on the medical facilities available. RDT is more popular around the world because it is fast and easy.
Treatment of Malaria
If you don't receive malaria treatment, this malaria disease can have very dangerous consequences. Although many steps have been taken, the vaccine for this disease is still not found. However, this disease can be treated with medication.
The aim of treating malaria is to remove Plasmodium parasites from the patient's bloodstream. Thus, the risk of disease transmission can be reduced with this malaria treatment.
Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by WHO for the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin comes from the Artemisia annua plant, and is known for its ability to reduce the number of Plasmodium parasites in the bloodstream quickly.
ACT can be combined with other drugs as a partner drug for the treatment of malaria. The role of artemisinin is to reduce the number of parasites in the first three days while the partner drug eliminates the rest.
The combination of ACT is the first time malaria treatment can be done. For the second treatment and for pregnant women and children, quinine and partner drugs are recommended.
Malaria is a disease of life-threatening red blood cells that are transmitted to humans by the Anopheles mosquito. After humans are bitten by mosquitoes, these malaria-causing parasites multiply in the human heart before infecting and destroying red blood cells.
Malaria is a disease that can be controlled and treated if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, this is not possible in some areas of the world lacking in medical facilities, where an outbreak of malaria can occur. At this time, the vaccine for this disease is still not found. Knowing the symptoms of malaria is one way to prevent malaria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has targeted to reduce malaria cases and deaths by 90% by 2030. Malaria was first discovered to be a parasitic disease in 1880.
An estimated 3.3 billion people in 97 countries are at risk of malaria, almost half of the world's population. The incidence rate of malaria is estimated to have fallen 30% globally in 2000-2013, while the mortality rate due to malaria symptoms is estimated to decrease by 47% worldwide.
Causes of Malaria
The cause of malaria is the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, which is contained in the body of the Plasmodium parasite. Anopheles are the only mosquitoes that can transmit malaria parasites.
The success of malaria-causing parasites to develop in the mosquito's body depends on several factors, especially the humidity and temperature of the mosquito.
When infected mosquitoes bite humans, malaria-causing parasites enter the bloodstream, and become active in the liver. For the next 5-16 days after being bitten, a bitten human will begin to show symptoms.
New malaria parasites are then released back into the bloodstream from the liver to red blood cells and begin to multiply. Some of these malaria-causing parasites remain in the heart and are not released in time. When released at the appointed time, that is what is called recurrence.
There are more than 100 types of Plasmodium, but scientists have identified five types of Plasmodium that are specifically capable of infecting humans:
- P. falciparum - This malaria-causing parasite is all over the world, but the majority is in Africa. An estimated 1 million people are killed because of this strain every year. This strain can multiply rapidly into severe malaria, for example, to attack the brain. However, this strain is unable to relapse.
- P. vivax - located in Latin America, Africa and Asia, most in Asia. This strain has an active stage in the liver that can activate and attack blood after months or years, which is called relapse.
- P. ovale - is located mainly in the West African region, biologically and morphologically very similar to P. vivax. This strain is capable of attacking negative Duffy blood type, which is a class in the majority of the sub-Saharan African population. This explains that the prevalence of this strain (not P. vivax) is mostly in Africa.
- P. malariae - located throughout the world and the only malaria parasite that is active every 3 days. If left untreated, P. malariae can cause chronic infections that can last a lifetime.
- P. knowlesi - located in Southeast Asia, is known to have a 24-hour cycle and, therefore, can multiply very quickly in patients. A fatal case of this strain was also reported.
The symptoms of malaria or signs of malaria need to be known to anticipate and deal appropriately. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signs of malaria or malaria symptoms are classified into two categories, namely simple and heavy.
Uncomplicated malaria is diagnosed if there are symptoms of malaria without clinical or laboratory signs to show vital organ dysfunction. Individuals who suffer can experience severe malaria if this simple malaria is not treated, or if they are not immune to fight disease.
Severe malaria is defined by clinical or laboratory evidence of vital organ dysfunction or failure. This type tends to be fatal if left untreated. The general picture of malaria symptoms is:
- Fever and chills
- Impaired consciousness to coma
- Seizures
- Respiratory disorders
- Abnormal bleeding, such as anemia
- Clinical jaundice and evidence of vital organ dysfunction
Early diagnosis of malaria is very important for the treatment of malaria. Every individual who shows signs of malaria and symptoms of this disease must be tested immediately. WHO highly recommends parasitological examination with a microscope or rapid diagnostic test (RDT / rapid diagnostic test). The choice of this method, of course, depends on the medical facilities available. RDT is more popular around the world because it is fast and easy.
Treatment of Malaria
If you don't receive malaria treatment, this malaria disease can have very dangerous consequences. Although many steps have been taken, the vaccine for this disease is still not found. However, this disease can be treated with medication.
The aim of treating malaria is to remove Plasmodium parasites from the patient's bloodstream. Thus, the risk of disease transmission can be reduced with this malaria treatment.
Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by WHO for the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin comes from the Artemisia annua plant, and is known for its ability to reduce the number of Plasmodium parasites in the bloodstream quickly.
ACT can be combined with other drugs as a partner drug for the treatment of malaria. The role of artemisinin is to reduce the number of parasites in the first three days while the partner drug eliminates the rest.
The combination of ACT is the first time malaria treatment can be done. For the second treatment and for pregnant women and children, quinine and partner drugs are recommended.
