Malaria : Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Malaria is a mosquito born infectious disease caused by single-celled parasites that can be transmitted by an infected female anopheles mosquito. Those parasites, referred to as plasmodia, belong to at least 5 species. Maximum human infections are caused by either plasmodium falciparum or plasmodium vivax.

The risk of disease can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites by the use of mosquito nets and insect repellents. Several medications are available to prevent malaria where the disease is common. Despite a need, no effective vaccine is generated, although efforts to develop one are on the go. The parasites travel to the liver where they meet and reproduce. The presence of malaria in an area requires a combination of high human population density and high rates of transmission from mosquitoes to humans.

The signs and symptoms of malaria begin 8-25 days after infection. The common symptom of having malaria is Paroxysm- a phenomena occurrence of sudden coldness followed by fever occurring every 2 days. Individuals with celebral malaria frequently exhibits neurological symptoms.

Malaria has different serious complications. One of them is the development of respiratory distress which occurs in up to 25% of adults and 40% of children. Malaria in pregnant women is an important cause of infant mortality, abortion and low birth weight.

Malaria is generally confirmed by the antigen based rapid diagnostic tests. It is used to differentiate between the symptoms by which malaria is caused, it can be plasmodium falciparum or by other species of parasites. Microscopy is the most commonly used method to detect the malarial parasite.

There are a number of medicines that can help prevent malaria in public places where infection is common. Many of these medications are also used in treatment. Chloroquine may be used where chloroquine-resistant parasites are not common. The protective effect does not begin immediately, and people visiting areas where malaria exists usually start taking the drugs one to two weeks before arriving and continue taking them for four weeks after leaving.

A non chemical vector control technique involves genetic manipulation of the malarial mosquitoes. Advancement in genetic engineering technologies make it possible to introduce foreign DNA into the genes of mosquito and either decrease the life span of mosquito. Sterile insect technique is a method for controlling genes in which large numbers of infertile male mosquitoes are reared and released.

The dreadful malaria: The insight

India accounts for more than 70% of malaria patients in the South East Asian region. Yearly, Indian doctors cater around 2 million patients and 100 deaths. The forest regions of Orissa, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh are where malaria is prevalent. Globally, malaria affects 36% of population and around 2020 million people in 107 countries.

What do we understand with malaria?

Malaria is a non-communicable infectious disease which is caused by plasmodium parasite that attacks the RBC’s (Red Blood Cells) accompanied by high fever, chills, shivering, body pain and sweating. There are four species that are responsible for causing malaria (plasmodium malariae, plasmodium vivax, plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium ovale) out of which consultant physicians consider plasmodium falciparum as the worst, capable of causing extreme complications. Unfortunately, a patient can get affected by two species concurrently.

How an individual gets malaria?

Malaria is a complex disease involving both human being and mosquito. When female anopheles mosquito bites, the parasite enters the blood. It travels and forms base in the liver. The parasite then multiplies in the liver. However, some of them stay there while other go out of the liver and attack red blood cells. Then it stays in the RBC’s and reproduces. 48-72 hours after the bite, more parasites are released into the blood. This is the reason why malaria chills are seen normally after 2-3 days after the release of the parasite in the blood.  

What are the warning signals of malaria?

Once bitten, the disease stretches up to around 2 weeks. Common symptoms include fever, chills, puking, headache, body ache, diarrhoea and cough. Generally, chills and fever replicate after 48 hours and during this time, a patient may develop anaemia due to breakdown of red blood cells. The spleen enlarges and is felt in the stomach.

The treatment for malaria

After a diligent research, The National Institute of Malaria Research has laid the course of action on diagnosis and treatment of malaria:

• Chloroquine is prescribed to the patient and the dosage depends on the person’s weight.
• Always give the first dose under the doctor’s supervision and not on an empty stomach.
• Drink plenty of fluids backed up by fruit juices.
• Call your general physician if no sign of improvement is seen.

Prevention is better than cure

• Mosquito's’ favourite breeding place is stagnant water- be it nearby ponds, a water puddle, pots, bird baths or fountains. Get them cleaned as soon as possible. Water in the swimming pools too needs cleaning.
• Use mosquito repellents, nets, fibre glass mashes for your windows if you live where mosquitoes are found in abundance. Cover up your body so that you are less exposed to mosquito bite.
• Indoor insecticide spray is also recommended to be on the safe side. 

Effective Ways to Control Mosquito Bites

Mosquitoes are responsible for various diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever, etc. It is extremely essential to prevent these disease carriers from entering your living area. Since the females often lay their eggs in stagnant water, make sure that you don't have stagnant water in or around your home.

Outdoor Protection

Stagnant water in ponds is often a breeding place for these bloodsucking insects. Breeding mosquito fish, killifish, goldfish, or guppies in the pond is a good option, as these feed on mosquito larvae. It would be a good idea to stay indoors at dusk and during evening hours. If you are planning to spend time outdoors, make sure that you wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks.

Indoor Protection

Protect yourself by either preventing these insects from entering your house or killing them as they enter. Markets are flooded with mosquito control products. These insects can be prevented from entering the house, if you have doors and windows with tightly knit mesh.

Repellents and Coils

Apply an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent cream or ointment on the exposed skin when you go outdoors, especially in woods. Coils are effective for outdoor use.

Electric Flyswatters

These are battery-operated handheld devices that look like tennis or badminton rackets. These are very effective in killing the ones that are flying around. The grid of the flyswatter is electrically charged to a voltage of between 500 and 1500 V DC. It gets activated as you press the button. Some of the electronic bug zappers attract the insects with their ultraviolet bulbs. The insects get killed as they approach the bulbs surrounded by low voltage grid.

Nets

Mosquito nets are an effective means to protect a small living area. You can cover your bed with hanging nets to prevent the insects from coming near you. These nets are very useful for covering beds where children sleep. You can also install nets for your windows and doors to effectively prevent these pests from entering your home. These nets have small holes that are large enough to let the air in, but not large enough to let the insects enter.

Make sure that you take measures to prevent these bloodsucking insects from entering your living area, so as to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

Lazoi initiates its services to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune

Lazoi Lifecare Private Limited, one of the leading healthcare portals in India today, proudly announces the instigation of its services in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune. The portal, which is best known for connecting patients to doctors, booking online diagnostic lab tests and medicines, the company off-late, has been on the expansion mode. Having already established itself in the heart of India (Delhi/NCR), the famous online portal is looking to help patients get the benefits of its services in core cities of Maharashtra. This has not only broadened the company’s area of operation but also the association of more doctors with it.

Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Pune are counted amongst posh cities of Maharashtra, where it is difficult to find the right doctor when someone in your family, relation or loved one falls sick. As per the Maharashtra Government, diseases such as cholera, small pox, high fever, dengue, dysentery, diarrhoea, respiratory problems, malaria are common in these cities. Sadly, number of deaths due to these conditions is also high. One of the factors behind these deaths, as stated by the state government is inability to connect patients with the right doctor. Hence, when patients fail to receive the proper treatment, it ultimately pushes them towards death. Specialists like paediatricians, gynaecologists, pulmonologists, dermatologists etc. are in demand in these high profile cities.  

Citing this very reason, Mr. Suvro Ghosh, founder of Lazoi, turned his focus on these cities. He made it a point that no patient shall be denied the right to appropriate treatment. So when he decided to start services in these cities, it was given a thumbs-up from the government. He further said, “While we have 50,000 + reputed doctors from Delhi/NCR at our portal, addition of few more from these cities will only bolster the business. Plus, patients will be more than happy to book online appointments rather than running here and there to get the right treatment.”

In the last 5 years, there has been a surge in patients looking for doctors who provide online appointment. In short, they are more internet-savvy now. Seeing this trend, a number of healthcare portals have come up in recent years. While some have tasted success (like Lazoi), others have gone down with the wind. Though, it’s a reality that in India where doctor-patient ratio is 1:2000, finding the right doctor is like chewing iron nails. What healthcare portals like Lazoi has done and off course doing is bridging the gap between doctors and patients. Expanding the current range of services to core cities in India is obviously best for business, plus it guarantees that no patient is deprived of quality medical services.     

Sanitation in India: Good health is where hygiene lies

India’s population has crossed 1.2 billion mark. Unfortunately, more than half of the population has no access to proper washrooms. People living in urban slums and rural areas make a good chunk of these numbers. A major rural population still defecates in the open. Slum dwellers residing along the railway tracks in major metropolitan cities have no access to toilets or a running supply of water. The situation in urban area is not as serious compared to rural areas. However, what adds to the existing wows of people is poor sewage system along with crammed living conditions.  

Sewage system, if at all present, suffers massively from poor maintenance leading to over flow. Today, cities have become immensely populated. Many cities in India, including the big ones have over a million residents. Existing sewage system in these cities can only serve the needs of around 3 million people and not 12-15 million people.

What’s making things worse is that the current infrastructure is unable to handle the needs of a growing population. It’s really sad that a big country like India neither has enough water to flush out the city’s waste nor has adequate sewage treatment plants. Only 30% of India’s water gets treated and rest of it mixes with streams and rivers, creating another problem of safe drinking water. According to a report, 75% of India’s surface water is polluted and 80% of this is due to sewage alone.

It’s worth mentioning that this impacts human health in the deadliest manner. Water pollution causes many diseases like diarrhoea and other intestinal infections. Diarrhoea alone is responsible for 535,000 deaths in children below 5 years. Various malnutrition cases have been reported in children due to contaminated water. Malaria and dengue also contribute in deaths among small children.

Unhealthy people, poor sanitary management hamper India’s growth and peg it back each year. Cost of treatments is rising and families are finding it difficult to afford which impacts the economy as a whole. However, a little more effort from the government and overcoming the demons of poor sanitation will help us become a global phenomenon.