QUESTION: What is malaria? How can it be controlled? ANSWER: Malaria is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite called Plasmodium. There are four species that regularly infect humans: P. falciparum (which causes the most severe form of the disease, and is responsible for 90% of the annual 700,000 fatalities caused by malaria, mainly in Africa), P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. A … [Read more...]
high fever after malaria is cured?
QUESTION: My dad was infected with malaria,and his blood platelets were depleted to 35000. He was immediately admitted to hospital. Now after 5 days of being admitted, he is getting high fever around 102 degrees every morning and evening. His blood platelets have increased to 3lac and all other reports are normal. According to the doctor, the malaria is cured, but they are not able to detect … [Read more...]
What is malaria?
QUESTION: What is malaria? ANSWER: Malaria is a disease caused by a parasitic single-celled animal known as Plasmodium. There are different species of Plasmodium, which cause different kinds of malaria. The main types which infect humans are P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The parasite is transmitted by certain species of mosquito; the parasite lives in the human blood … [Read more...]
What pathogenic organisms cause malaria?
QUESTION: What pathogenic organism causes the disease? ANSWER: Malaria is caused by single-celled organisms, called protozoans, of the genus Plasmodium. Different forms of malaria are caused by different species of Plasmodium. The most severe and deadly form is caused by P. falciparum, which is responsible for 90% of the global deaths from malaria, the majority of these in Africa, and … [Read more...]
Who discovered the disease malaria?
QUESTION: Who discovered the malaria disease and when? ANSWER: Malaria has been known for thousands of years; there are written accounts of the disease, including a description of its symptoms, in ancient Chinese medical texts from 2700 BCE. The ancient Romans and Greeks also knew about malaria. However, the causes of the disease were only discovered in the 19th century. In 1880, a … [Read more...]
Malaria and Jaundice
QUESTION: Why are patients suffering with malaria more susceptible to jaundice? ANSWER: The icterus/jaundice is usually from lysis/breakdown of infected red blood cells as they rupture and release new malaria parasites into the bloodstream. If only 1% of red cells are infected, this will be mild. If "parasitaemia" is severe/life threatening, say, 10% of red cells infected, then the … [Read more...]
Malaria Locations in Africa
QUESTION: Where in Africa is malaria mainly found? ANSWER: The distribution of malaria is constrained by two main factors: temperature and the presence of suitable mosquito hosts. These mosquitoes also depend on certain climatic conditions for their development, namely warm temperatures and sufficient rainfall to produce stagnant water, required by mosquito larvae. As such, although most … [Read more...]
How quickly should patient take medicine for malaria?
QUESTION: My sister has been suffering from malaria for three months. She consulted with doctor in the first symptom of malaria but doctor gave only fever medicine at that time. Blood test was not done at that time. So my question is: "within how many days or months malaria patient has to immediately take medicine?" ANSWER: One of our collaborating medical doctors has assisting in … [Read more...]
Malaria and stomach pains
QUESTION: Will malaria cause severe stomach pain? ANSWER: In some cases, yes, malaria can cause stomach cramps and pain. It also often causes nausea and vomiting. It is important to seek medical attention if you think you have symptoms of malaria; a quick and accurate diagnosis will lead to effective and efficient treatment, which improves chances of a rapid recovery. … [Read more...]
Malaria Control in Developing Countries
QUESTION: Should malaria be controlled in third world countries? ANSWER: Absolutely! Malaria is a leading cause of preventable death in many developing countries, with young children (under the age of five) at particular risk. Moreover, malaria is linked to loss of productivity, absenteeism from work/school and may even be linked to continuing cycles of poverty in areas where malaria (and … [Read more...]