Definition of malaria:
Malaria is a widespread disease transmitted by the anopheles mosquito, which is found in more than 100 countries in the tropics from South America to the Indian Peni nsula. The illness results when the parasite carried by the mosquito, a protozoan (plasmodium sp) invades the human red blood cells.
Nature of disease:
The period between mosquito bite and onset of illness is usually 7 to 21 days. Four species of malaria parasites infect humans and cause illness _ Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax, and P.ovale). However only falciparum malaria is potentially life threatening and therefore will be the main focus of our discussion on the disease. A symptom of malaria closely resembles those of flu which include fever, diarrhoea, and coughing.
When the parasite gets into the blood stream, it quickly invades the liver. In the next fourteen days, it multiplies within the liver cell to form as many as 200,000 merozoites. On maturation the merozoites are released into the blood where they invade human red blood cells. While in the red blood cell the parasite matures asexually to produce another 10_20 merozoites that are again in turn released into the blood to invade even more red cells. This process of rupture and release of the merozoites is usually associated with the clinical symptoms of the disease which are fever and chills. This cycle occurs every 2_3 days and the patient gets worse rapidly if left untreated. This would develop into various forms of complication eventually .In one of such complications the patient goes into shock because of loss of water and electrolytes.
This heavy invasion of the red blood cells that contain oxygen carriers leads to hymolysis making the patient very pale _ a severe condition of anaemia. This ultimately leads to heart failure especially in infants. Also as a result of the destruction of a large volume of the red blood cells, residual pigments are released into the blood which are very toxic. When they reach the kidneys, they damage the kidney tubules which leads to the kidney failure usually associated with this disease.
The Spread of the disease:
Malaria is a very widespread infection. It is one of the world's most prevalent diseases and currently the number 1 priority tropical disease of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is found mainly in the tropics from South America to the Indian peninsula.
Anopheles mosquito breeds and lives in conditions with high humidity, high temperature, high rainfall, stagnant water, all of which makes the tropics its ideal grounds for habitation. Current records show that over 40% of the world's population are threatened by this disease. See map showing the malarious regions of the world. It occurs mainly in most of Sub_Saharan Africa, Southern and Southeast Asia, Central and South America. Generally it's been observed that the parasite is less likely to survive at altitudes above 1500 metres or about 4500 feet. Unfortunately therefore the developing world carry's most if not all of this burden.
Mortality Rate:
Over 400 million cases of malaria are recorded annually and between 1.5 _ 2 million of these cases die each year.
Sadly 90% of these deaths are young infants under the age of five years with 85% in sub_Saharan Africa alone. The rest cases may be traced to India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Colombia and Solomon Islands. Malaria accounts for 2.6% of the total disease burden of the globe.
Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Research:
Unknown to the public malaria claims more lives than cancer, heart attack, and even HIV/AIDS put together. Yet HIV/AIDS and cancer are receiving all the attention materially, financially and overall support. Why is this the case? Is one death less important than the other? The estimated world_wide expenditure per malaria death today is mere US$65, compared to a staggering sum of US$3274 per HIV/AIDS death. This means one HIV/AIDS death is equal to about 50 malaria deaths. What a joke. The estimated world_wide expenditure on malaria research is US$58m which is one thousandth of the US$56billion spent on health research annually. Another irony.
Future Prospects:
There are no future prospects other than mere projections. Malaria has no vaccine and the closest we are away from developing one is at least ten years. The World Health Organization aims to cut malaria deaths in half by 2010, through its "Rollback Malaria" campaign unveiled in 1998. "The big Pharmaceutical companies see malaria as a disease of the very poor. So they never view it as much of an investment priority", says Jeffrey Sachs, the Director of the Harvard University Centre for International Development. He suggests it will take an annual investment of US$l billion by the world's richest countries to significantly attack malaria in a study he carried out in conjunction with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine recently (2000). Unfortunately this is never going to happen. That's why it suffices to say there are no future prospects.
Prevention:
Malaria is a preventable disease and for those who can afford the measures, this holds the only real hope for them. Several forms of prevention have been developed over the years. They include :
1. Use of Mosquito nets:
Nets alone could cut the disease by half but only 2 percent of African children sleep under them according to research findings from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. They cannot afford them. Essentially however, these nets are soaked in insecticides thereby preventing mosquito bites. Avoidance of mosquito bites is the best way to prevent infection and so far the use of impregnated mosquito nets has proved most effective and reliable.
2. Use of insect repellant:
A recommended repellant which contains 20 _ 30 % DEET (N,N_diethyl_m_toluamide) can be applied to exposed skin but this is simply not practicable with respects to the vulnerable group to whom this fight is dedicated to saving. Treatment _ to be continued.
You can help to make a difference to millions of young children of Africa and other tropical countries world-wide. Please join the fight against Malaria and help eradicate the major threat against our future generations in the developing countriess. We are certain it can be done.