Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment of Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by infection of the plasmodium parasite that is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes called Anopheles. Anopheles mosquitoes cause malaria disease is mostly found in areas with temperate climates, especially in Africa and India. Included also in Indonesia.

Parasite plasmodium mosquito - borne attacks the red blood cells. Until now there are four types of plasmodium is capable of infecting humans is plasmodium vivax, plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous and potentially life threatening.

Each year, approximately 1.2 million people worldwide die from malaria. Similarly, according to the latest data published in the British medical journal, The Lancet. Figures quoted much higher than WHO estimates that in 2010 655,000.

Many thought malaria together with dengue fever since had similar symptoms and are both transmitted by mosquitoes. But keep in mind that they are different. Malaria is caused by the anopheles mosquitoes that carry the parasite plasmodium, while dengue fever caused by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito that carries dengue virus.

Symptoms of Malaria

The symptoms of malaria are similar to the symptoms of regular flu. Patients have fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches joints. Patients experiencing nausea, vomiting, cough and diarrhea. The typical symptoms of malaria are the cycles of chills, fever and sweating that occurs over and over again. Repetition can take place every day, two days or three days dependent type of malaria that infects. Other symptoms of yellowing of the skin due to the destruction of red blood cells and liver cells.

Initial malaria infection generally have the following signs and symptoms:

• Shiver
• High fever
• Excessive sweating body with decreasing temperature
• Experiencing discomfort and uneasiness (malaise)

 Other signs and symptoms include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Gag
• Diarrhea

 In some cases, the parasite that causes malaria in the human body can survive for several months. Meanwhile, infections due to P.Falciparum parasite is usually more serious and life threatening. So when feeling these symptoms, handlers doctor early is strongly recommended.

Causes, Transmission & Risk Factors

Despite having almost similar symptoms, malaria and dengue fever caused by mosquitoes different. Mosquito causes dengue fever is Aedes aegypti, and attack at noon. While the Anopheles mosquito that causes malaria attack during the morning and afternoon.

Causes Malaria

Parasite called plasmodium that causes malaria. There are 170 species of plasmodium, but only four that cause malaria in humans:

• P.Falciparum, a species that is widely available in Africa and causes severe symptoms.
• P.vivax, a species that is widely available in the tropical regions of Asia.
• P. Malariae, is widely available in Africa and can remain in the bloodstream without causing any symptoms for several years.
• P.Ovale, is widely available in western Africa.

The process of Malaria Transmission

Plasmodium parasite transmission to humans is through the female anopheles mosquito. When a mosquito bites a person infected with malaria, the mosquito sucking parasite called gametocytes. The parasite completed its growth cycle in the mosquito's body and then spread to the salivary glands of the mosquito. At the time of your bite, the mosquito injects the parasite into your bloodstream. To the liver and then multiply themselves.

Other forms of transmission that can occur can be spread from a pregnant woman to the fetus. Malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusions.

Risk Factors Affected by Malaria

Those who have low immunity against malaria has a greater risk. This is in contrast to those living in endemic areas because it already has immunity against malaria.

They are at risk of malaria, among others:

• Children and babies
• Travelers coming from areas with no malaria
• The pregnant woman and her fetus

Prevention and Treatment Method

There is no effective vaccine against malaria. In endemic countries prevention is to keep mosquitoes from humans by wearing insect repellent or mosquito nets.

Prevention
Usually the government did foging (fumigation) in malaria endemic areas. But we can also do the following precautions:

• Avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing
• Using anti-mosquito cream
• Installing anti-mosquito nets
• If you will be traveling to a place where a lot of mosquitoes threatening, consult your doctor
• Do not leave the house after dusk
• To spray mosquito in the bedroom and the house

How Treatment

There are three factors that must be considered in the treatment of malaria, namely: the infecting species of plasmodium, the clinical state of the patient (age and pregnancy) and the types of drugs that are suitable for plasmodium infection. These types of drugs depending on the geographical area where the plasmodium life. It is caused by plasmodium which is resistant to some drugs in certain regions areas.

Malaria light can be given oral medication. While severe malaria who have clinical symptoms of bleeding should be observed in the hospital with intravenous medication.