Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious diseasen of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans (a type of unicellular microorganism) of the

genus Plasmodium. Malaria is a blood disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted from human-tohuman by the Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease.

When the female mosquito feeds on an infected person, male and female forms of the parasite are ingested from human blood. Subsequently, the male and female forms of the parasite meet and mate in the mosquito gut, and the infective forms are passed into another human when the mosquito feeds again.

Plasmodium is a genus of Apicomplexan parasites. Infection by these organisms is known as malaria.

P. falciparum P. vivax P. ovale P. malariae.

The first two types are the most common. Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous of these parasites because the infection can kill rapidly (within several days), whereas the other species cause illness but not death. Falciparum malaria is particularly frequent in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania.

You can only get malaria if you're bitten by an infected mosquito, or if you receive infected blood from someone during a blood transfusion.
Malaria can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.

The mosquitoes that carry Plasmodium parasite get it from biting a person or animal that's already been infected. The parasite then goes through various changes that enable it to infect the next creature the mosquito bites. Once it's in you, it multiplies in the liver and changes again, getting ready to infect the next mosquito that bites you. It then enters the bloodstream and invades red blood cells. Eventually, the infected red blood cells burst. This sends the parasites throughout the body and causes symptoms of malaria.

Malaria has been with us long enough to have changed our genes. The reason why many people of African descent suffer from the blood disease sickle cell anemia is because the gene that causes it also confers some immunity to malaria. In Africa, people with a sickle cell gene are more likely to survive and have children. The same is true of thalassemia, a hereditary disease found in people of Mediterranean, Asian, or African American descent.

Symptoms usually appear about 12 to 14 days after infection. People with malaria have the following symptoms:

abdominal pain chills and sweats diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (these symptoms only appear sometimes) headache high fevers low blood pressure causing dizziness if moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing position (also called orthostatic hypotension) muscle aches poor appetite

If recognized early, malaria infection can be completely cured. You may be treated as an outpatient. The medication chosen by your doctor depends on:

the type of malaria the area you travelled to or visited when you contracted malaria (the doctor needs to know this because in certain geographical locations the malaria is resistant to some medications) the severity of the illness your medical history if you are pregnant

Treatment usually lasts for 3 to 7 days, depending on the medication type. To get rid of the parasite, it's important to take the medication for the full length of time prescribed - don't stop taking the medication even if you feel better. If you experience any side effects, your doctor can recommend ways to manage them or may choose to give you a different medication.

If you're travelling to a malarial region, you should take a course of preventive treatment. Medications similar to those used to cure malaria can prevent it if taken before, during, and after your trip. It's vital to take your medication as prescribed, even after you return home.

yourself against mosquito bites and taking antimalarial medicines Children and pregnant women avoid traveling to areas where malaria is common.

Stay inside when it is dark outside, preferably in a screened or air-conditioned room. Wear protective clothing (long pants and long-sleeved shirts). Use insect repellent with DEET (N,N diethylmetatoluamide). The repellent is available in varying strengths up to 100%. In young children, use a preparation containing less than 24% strength, because too much of the chemical can be absorbed through the skin.

Use bed nets (mosquito netting) sprayed with or soaked in an insecticide such as permethrin or deltamethrin. Use flying-insect spray indoors around sleeping areas. Avoid areas where malaria and mosquitoes are present if you are at higher risk (for example, if you are pregnant, very young, or very old).

ASANTE (Thank you )