Topic > Facts about malaria

Malaria is an acute febrile, mosquito-borne blood disease caused by a Plasmodium parasite. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. As P. falciparum matures, infected erythrocytes adhere to the microvascular endothelium, a term coined for cytoadherence, limit vascular function, and reduce perfusion. The extent to which vital organs are affected determines the clinical picture and outcome of severe falciparum malaria. [1]Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to the WHO, 216 million cases of malaria have been reported worldwide and have caused 445,000 deaths, effectively becoming an alarming epidemic. According to the latest WHO-UNICEF report, India is the third among the 15 countries with the highest cases of morbidity and mortality due to malaria.[2]Certain population groups such as infants, children under 5 years and Patients with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of contracting malaria.[3]Pregnant women, particularly primigravid women, are up to 10 times more likely to contract malaria. Pregnant women also have a greater tendency to develop severe malaria.[4]Malaria is considered uncomplicated when symptoms are present but there are no clinical or laboratory signs indicating severity or organ dysfunction. Severe malaria typically presents as a progression of uncomplicated malaria. P. falciparum can cause severe malaria because it multiplies rapidly in the blood and can therefore cause severe blood loss (anemia). Antimalarial drugs are used to curb various symptoms of malaria and to eradicate the parasite. Current practice in treating malaria cases is based on the concept of combination therapy (e.g., Coartem). This regimen offers numerous benefits, some of which are reduced risk of treatment failure, reduced risk of developing resistance, increased convenience, and reduced side effects.[5] Parasite clearance rates are the main measures of the effectiveness of antimalarial drugs. They are particularly important in the evaluation of artemisinin resistance. [6] In the erythrocyte schizogony cycle, artemisinins exert action over a wide range of stages, from ring forms to early schizonts, and thus have the broadest time window of antimalarial actions. [7]WHO recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria caused by the P. falciparum parasite. Combining 2 active ingredients with different mechanisms of action. The choice of ACT should be based on the results of therapeutic efficacy studies against local strains of P. falciparum malaria. Fever is the most common sign during an acute malarial attack and may be accompanied by other ancillary symptoms such as headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea. [8]Remember: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Indian studies on fever and parasite clearance in patients receiving ACT are inadequate, so this study is necessary to establish a correlation between the drug administered and its outcome.