QUESTION What is the pathophysiology of malaria? ANSWER Malaria causes disease through a number of pathways, which depend to a certain extent on the species. Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium; there are five species which infect humans, being Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. All these species are introduced into … [Read more...]
Malaria and Anemia
QUESTION How does malaria cause anemia? ANSWER Anemia is the result of a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood. Malaria specifically attacks red blood cells, invading them and then undergoing multiple cycles of reproduction inside them. Once replication has been completed, the malaria parasites burst out of the red blood cell, destroying it in the process. Over the course … [Read more...]
Does all malaria kill without treatment?
QUESTION: Does all malaria kill without treatment? ANSWER: No. There are five main species of malaria which infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. Of these, P. falciparum is the most deadly, and can often cause death if left untreated. The other four may also result in death, but more rarely, and usually only in high risk individuals, … [Read more...]
Side Effects of Treatment
QUESTION What are the probable side effects / reaction of "Artemether with Lumefantrine" to a 4.5 years, 5ml syrup, 2 doses - 0 & 8 hours? ANSWER Artermeter with Lumefantrine is often sold under the brand name "Coartem" and is widely distributed in areas of high P. falciparum prevalence, and particularly where known resistance to chloroquine occurs. Coartem is also the drug of … [Read more...]
Malaria Month
QUESTION What is the national month for malaria? ANSWER I'm not exactly sure I understand your question. If you are asking if there is a specific month when malaria is the worst, that depends on where you are. Malaria transmission is highly seasonal, because the mosquitoes that transmit the disease require pools of standing water in order to reproduce. Therefore in many places, … [Read more...]
Malaria and Blood Cells
QUESTION What effect does malaria have on blood cells? ANSWER Malaria survives by invading red blood cells (erythrocytes), then replicating within them several times (the exact number and timing of replication depends on the species of malaria), then, once done with replication, bursts from inside the red blood cells, destroying it in the process. As such, malaria infection decreases the … [Read more...]
Reports of community mobilisation on prevention and treatment of malaria
QUESTION: Do you have any reports on community mobilisation on malaria prevention? ANSWER: There are a lot of organisations that utilise community involvement and mobilisation in their strategies to prevent and control malaria. One example of such an organisation is UNICEF; they work closely with governments to develop initiatives that allow for scaling up of community and health facility … [Read more...]
Epidemiology of Malaria
QUESTION: Epidemology of malaria ANSWER: I'm afraid that without a bit more detail in the question, it is difficult to answer - there are many facets to the epidemiology of malaria, from the distribution of the disease globally to its prevalence in different age and risk groups among human populations. Human migration and movement can also play a large role in the epidemiology of malaria, … [Read more...]
Symptoms of Malaria
QUESTION What are the symptoms of malaria? ANSWER The symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Infection with one type of malaria, Plasmodium … [Read more...]
Fever
QUESTION I am suffering from fever—what should I do? ANSWER I am afraid I cannot answer your question adequately—this site is not intended for diagnosis or as a substitute for medical care, just to answer specific questions about malaria. … [Read more...]