01/12/2015
TODAY WE WILL EXTENSIVELY DISSCUS MALARIA.
FACTS.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes.
About 3.2 billion people – almost half of the world’s population – are at risk of malaria.
Young children, pregnant women and non-immune travellers from malaria-free areas are particularly vulnerable to the disease when they become infected.
Malaria is preventable and curable, and increased efforts are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places.
Between 2000 and 2015, malaria incidence (the rate of new cases) fell by 37% globally. In that same period, malaria death rates fell by 60% globally among all age groups, and by 65% among children under 5.
Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 89% of malaria cases and 91% of malaria deaths.
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors.” There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat.
P. falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the African continent. It is responsible for most malaria-related deaths globally.
P. vivax has a wider distribution than P. falciparum, and predominates in many countries outside of Africa.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Malaria is an acute febrile illness. In a non-immune individual, symptoms appear 7 days or more (usually 10–15 days) after the infective mosquito bite.
The first symptoms – fever, headache, chills and vomiting – may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria.
If not treated within 24 hours, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness, often leading to death.
Children with severe malaria frequently develop 1 or more of the following symptoms:
severe anaemia, respiratory distress in relation to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria.
In adults, multi-organ involvement is also frequent.
In malaria endemic areas, people may develop partial immunity, allowing asymptomatic infections to occur.
ANY QUESTION?