#IDFridays Week 9: Malaria

Photo Credits: Softpedia, Smithsonian

Name
Malaria (the name is derived from mala aria – or ‘bad air’ in Italian – as Ancient Romans believed that swamp fumes produced the illness)

Transmission

A life-threatening disease caused by the plasmodium parasite
- There are over 100 species of this parasite
- P. falciparum, the most deadly of these species, is also the most prevalent on the African continent
Its transmitted to people by the female anopheles mosquito

Geography

Worldwide, but most cases and deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa
There were an estimated 214 million cases all over the world in 2015
In 2015, sub-Saharan Africa had 88% of global malaria cases and 90% of global malaria deaths

Incubation Period
7 – 15 days after an infected mosquito bite

Signs and Symptoms
The first symptoms include:

If not treated within 24 hours, P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness with these symptoms:

Diagnosis
Laboratory testing of blood samples (rapid diagnostic testing is also available)

Treatment

Many effective antimalarial drugs are available but resistance to antimalarial medicines is a consistent global problem
For uncomplicated cases, the best treatment is artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)

Prognosis

It is preventable and curable if diagnosed on time and treated properly however, without proper diagnosis and drugs, it can lead to death
In 2015, there were an estimated 438,000 deaths
More than two thirds (70%) of all deaths are to children under 5
Pregnant women have increased susceptibility to P. falciparum malaria

Prevention: What Can You Do?

Avoid mosquitoes (use insecticide-treated mosquito nets, apply insect repellent, and wear long clothing to reduce the chance of bites)
Ensure there is no standing water around your home and if it cannot be drained or removed, cover the water because mosquitoes breed in stagnant water
Travelers to mosquito-endemic areas can take prophylactic drugs to prevent the disease

Malaria In the News