Malaria: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Prevention and Treatment

World Malaria Day 2017

Introduction

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. In humans malaria is caused majorly by 5 (five) parasite species, however Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax present the greatest threat.

• Plasmodium falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the African continent. It is responsible for most malaria-related deaths globally. 

• Plasmodium vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.

Key facts on malaria

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

• In 2015, 91 countries and areas had ongoing malaria transmission.

• Malaria is preventable and curable, and increased efforts are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places.

• Between 2010 and 2015, malaria incidence among populations at risk (the rate of new cases) fell by 21% globally. In that same period, malaria mortality rates among populations at risk fell by 29% globally among all age groups, and by 35% among children under 5.

• Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. (WHO)

Facts pregnant women should know on malaria.

1.      Malaria is caused by the bite of mosquito

2.      Malaria can make  a pregnant woman lose their pregnancy

3.      Malaria is dangerous to the pregnant mother and the unborn baby

4.       Malaria can cause low blood level and weakness in pregnant women

5.      Malaria can cause low birth weight and weakness during delivery.

How people get malaria

People gets malaria when female anopheles bite them, malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood.

Who is at risk of malaria?

Malaria is more serious in this people

• Pregnant women 
• Children under five years old 
• Immigrants coming into malaria endemic areas
•  Those with sickle cell anaemia 
• People living with HIV/AIDS

In 2015, nearly half of the world's population was at risk of malaria. Most malaria cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. However, South-East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, are also at risk. In 2015, 91 countries and areas had ongoing malaria transmission.
Some population groups are at considerably higher risk of contracting malaria, and developing severe disease, than others. These include infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as non-immune migrants, mobile populations and travellers. National malaria control programmes need to take special measures to protect these population groups from malaria infection, taking into consideration their specific circumstances. (WHO)

 

Malaria disease burden

According to the latest WHO estimates, released in December 2016, there were 212 million cases of malaria in 2015 and 429 000 deaths.
Between 2010 and 2015, malaria incidence among populations at risk fell by 21% globally; during the same period, malaria mortality rates among populations at risk decreased by 29%. An estimated 6.8 million malaria deaths have been averted globally since 2001.
Sub-Saharan Africa continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. Some 13 countries – mainly in sub-Saharan Africa – account for 76% of malaria cases and 75% deaths globally.
In areas with high transmission of malaria, children under 5 are particularly susceptible to infection, illness and death; more than two thirds (70%) of all malaria deaths occur in this age group. Between 2010 and 2015, the under-5 malaria death rate fell by 29% globally. However malaria remains a major killer of children under five years old, taking the life of a child every two minutes



Malaria danger signs

• Child looking pale
• Confusion
• Convulsion
• Too weak to sit or stand
• Vomiting food and medicine taken
• Inability to  pass urine
• Yellowness of the eye
• Severe fever

If any of this signs comes up the person should be immediately refers to the health facility fur treatment

Symptoms of malaria

• Fever (Hot body temperature)
• General body weakness
• Body aches
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Shivering
• Bitter mouths

Prevention of malaria

Malaria can be prevented through the following process:

• Sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito net
• Using of mosquito repellent
• Spray your surroundings
• Keeping good environmental hygiene
• Avoid and drain all stagnant waters

Treatment of malaria

Dosage for co-formulated Artesunate-Amodiaquine

Weight	Age	Table strength     Artesunate-       Amodiaquine	Dosage
≥ 4.5 kg – < 9kg	2months – 11 months	25mg – 67.5mg	1 tablet once daily for three days
≥ 9 kg – < 18 kg	1 year to 5 years	50mg – 135mg	1 tablet once daily for three days
≥ 18 kg – < 36 kg	6 years – 13 years	100mg – 270mg	1 tablet once daily for three days
≥ 36 kg	14 years	100mg – 270mg	2 tablet once daily for three days

Dosage chart for artemether (20mg) + Lumenfantrin (120mg)

S/N	Age	Weight	Day 1		Day 2		Day 3
			Morning	Evening	Morning	Evening	Morning	Evening
1	6 months-3years	5 – 14 kg	θ	θ	θ	θ	θ	θ
2	4years – 8years	15 – 24 kg	θ θ	θ θ	θ θ	θ θ	θ θ	θ θ
3	9years – 14 years	25 – 34 kg	θ θ θ	θ θ θ	θ θ θ	θ θ θ	θ θ θ	θ θ θ
4	15 years and above	35kg and above	θ θ θ θ	θ θ θ θ	θ θ θ θ	θ θ θ θ	θ θ θ θ	θ θ θ θ

When and how to correctly treat malaria

• On noticing malaria, treatment most begin immediately 
• Give medicines as soon as possible 
• Complete your dose 
• Use medicines appropriately do not take overdose

Tips on how to use malaria or give malaria medicine

• For children below 1 years, you may have to break the tablet to give half tablet 
• Use two spoon to crush it for hygiene purposes 
• Mix the crushed medicine with banana or honey to sweeten it 
• Ensure the child eat food before drug is given because fatty food aids the drug absorption 
• If the child vomit the medicine 30 minute of taken it, repeat the vomited doses 
• In case of drug reaction please take the person to a nearby health facility