THE MALARIAL PARASITE

PLASMODIUM

The disease caused by plasmodium parasite transmitted by the bite of infected mosquito.

The severity of malaria varies based on the species of plasmodium.

Malaria is usually found in tropical and subtropical climates where the parasites that cause it live.

typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito.

Plasmodium falciparum (the cause of malignant tertian malaria) (tertian:fever recurs every second day)

Plasmodium vivax (the most frequent cause of benign tertian malaria)

Plasmodium ovale (the other, less frequent, cause of benign tertian malaria)

Plasmodium malariae (the cause of benign quartan malaria)

Plasmodium knowlesi (the cause of severe malaria in South East Asia since 1965)

TYPES OF MALARIAL PARASITE

The life cycle (Figure 1) is almost the same for all the five species that infect humans and follows three stages:

(I) ifection of a human with sporozoites(II) asexual reproduction(III) sexual reproduction

The two first stages take place exclusively into the human body, while the third one starts in the human body and is completed into the mosquito organism.

LIFE CYCLE

SYMPTOM OF MALARIA A typical attack of malaria comprises of three distinct stages.1. COLD STAGE:

Begins with the feeling of cold, shivering and headache.  The individual covers himself with quilts the blankets.  Fingers and lips become bluish with dry skin.  Hairs on skin are raised.  It may continue for 15 minutes to 1 hour.2. HOT STAGE:The fever rises very high so the patient feels burning heat.  He takes off the cloths.  The patient feels intense headache with nausea  and vomiting.  This stage lasts from 2-6 hours.  Pulse is heavy and bounding, feels intense thirsty.3. SWEATING STAGE:In this stage, fever comes down with profuse sweating.  Patient normally goes into deep sleep, on awaking feels weak.  This stage lasts 2-4 hours.

shaking chills that can range from moderate to severehigh feverprofuse sweatingheadachenauseavomitingdiarrheaanemiamuscle painconvulsionscomabloody stools

COMMON SYMPTOMS

TREATMENT FOR THE DISEASE

No primaquine for infants and pregnant womenChloroquine Resistant P.falciparum Areas (Ramanathapuram and Chennai only)

In Tamil Nadu State during  90's a total of 1,20,029 cases were recorded  out of which 59.6 % were recorded from the urban areas and 40.4% in rural. 

The  coastal villages of Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi and Nagapattinam and riverine villages of Dharmapuri,Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai were endemic for malaria.

IMPORTED CASES:A total of 145 cases are imported from Kerala

during 2000,121 from Andhra Pradesh and 99 cases from Karnataka.  The importation of cases are due to

1) Migration of Labourers and fishermen.2) Pilgrimage  population.3) Movement of people from one place to another seeking jobs,business,etc.

DISEASE BURDEN IN RURAL AND CHENNAI

PREVENTION

There’s no vaccine available to prevent malaria

Insecticide-treated bed nets. Most malaria-carrying mosquitoes bite at night, so insecticide-treated mosquito nets can be a life-saving barrier. ...

Treating women during pregnancy. Pregnant women have lower immunity. ...

Health education. ...Environmental methods.

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