Malaria By Alexandra Graziano 10 White 2012

What is this disease? Malaria is an infection of the blood caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four species of the Plasmodium parasite that are responsible for most malaria infections in humans. The most serious form of malaria is caused by the species known as Plasmodium falciparum.

What is the cause of this disease? After being bitten by a mosquito, the parasite from the bug travels through the blood stream and eventually makes its way to the liver, where the parasite begins to reproduce and develop into merozoites. The merozoites leave the liver and enter red blood cells to reproduce. Soon, new parasites burst out in search of new red blood cells to infect.

What type of disease is it? Malaria is an infectious disease commonly found in tropical areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South America, the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands (these are known as malarious regions). Malaria is a protozone.

Who commonly suffers from the disease? People who live in tropical areas like the ones mentioned in the slide before.

Signs and Symptoms... Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, stomach pain, and muscular aches and weakness. Infection with the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, results in the most severe form of malaria and, if left untreated, it can cause serious illness - such as seizures, mental confusion, kidney failure, coma and even death.

Treatments Mild malaria can be treated with oral medication; severe malaria can be treated with drug treatment and fluids in the hospital.

Can it be cured?? Malaria can be cured if it is treated early enough.

Interesting facts.... It is a public health problem today in more than 100 countries inhabited by some 2,400 million people percent of the world's population. Malaria is estimated to cause million clinical cases and over one million deaths each year. Every 30 seconds, a child somewhere dies of malaria. In any given year, nearly ten percent of the global population will suffer a case of malaria. Most survive after an illness of days.

More facts.... Children are especially vulnerable to malaria. In Africa, where 80% of malaria cases are treated at home, the disease kills one child in twenty before the age of five. Pregnant women are also at high risk. They have an increase risk of disease and death, as well as adverse impacts for their developing babies- including low birth weight, growth retardation, still births and death. In African countries, up to 60% of hospital admissions may be for malaria; that's 6 out of 10 admissions! Travellers to Sub-Saharan Africa have the greatest risk of both getting malaria and dying from their infection. All travelers to any countries with malaria risk may get this potentially deadly disease, and thus taking proper precautions is essential.

More facts... Other high-risk groups include refugees, displaced persons, or labour forces entering into endemic areas. Malaria is transmitted in large areas of Africa, Central and South America, the island of Hispaniola (includes Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic), Asia (including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Middle East), Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific.

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