Malaria - Essay on exam 1 PDF

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Julian Hermanson Exam 1 – Essay

Malaria is a life- threatening disease that damages red blood cells caused by the plasmodium parasite and it is transmitted by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The symptoms occur a few weeks after getting bitten and it includes chills, fever, and sweating. The areas that malaria affects the most are in Africa, South Asia, parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. However, malaria does not occur in all warm climates because it depends on the mosquito species that are infected by the plasmodium in the surrounding geographic region and the level of preventative measures that are taken. There are fewer than 20,000 cases in the United States but people who plan on traveling to areas where malaria is more rampant, it is advised and at times required to take anti-malarial drugs before, during, and after their trip. Additional symptoms to watch out for is pain in the abdomen or muscles, fatigue, night sweats, shivering, gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, fast heart rate, headache, mental confusion, or pallor. There are five species that cause malaria in humans and two of these species, the P. falciparum and P. vivax, are the greatest threats globally. As of 2017, the P. falciparum mosquito caused a majority of malaria cases in the African Region, as well as in South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Western Pacific. Certain vulnerable groups are at a higher risk of contracting malaria, which include infants, children under five years of age, pregnant women, individuals with HIV/AIDS as well as a low immune system. National malaria control programs are attempting to take preventative measures to protect these population groups. In 2017, five countries consisted of half of all malaria cases worldwide, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, India, and Uganda. Treatment for malaria depends on the type of species you got bitten by, the severity of your symptoms, age, pregnancy status, and if you would be considered resistant to antibiotics. A few examples of drugs that can potentially treat malaria would be Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), Chloroquine phosphate, a combination of atovaquone and proguanil Malarone, Quinine sulfate, Qualaquin with doxycycline Vibramycin, Monodox, Mefloquine, and Primaquine phosphate. In order to prevent transmission of malaria as much as possible would require people to remove sources of water that provide mosquitos the opportunity to lay eggs in, near homes or drinking supplies, as well as spraying insecticides on bed nets or inside the homes, using screens for doors and windows, and wearing long sleeves if possible or putting insect repellant on the skin.

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