Malaria is a serious illness, sometimes fatal. People who become infected with it usually have severe symptoms, including chills, fever, and flu-like conditions. Malaria is more likely to be fatal. However, timely and proper treatment can prevent this. The causative agent of malaria is plasmodium, living in the body of a certain type of mosquito, which feeds on human blood. Below this question will be considered in more detail. Information on the treatment and prevention of the disease can be found in this publication.
History
Symptoms of malaria have been described in ancient Chinese medical writings. Several characteristic signs of the disease, which was later called malaria, are found in the work of the imperial doctor Nei Jing, "The Canons of Medicine." This ailment was widely known in Greece as early as the 4th century BC, at that time it caused a high mortality rate. The main symptoms were noted by Hippocrates and other philosophers and doctors of antiquity. The Hindu doctor of Susrut, a thinker and adherent of Ayurveda, also mentioned symptoms of malaria in his treatise and talked about their appearance after bites of some insects. Some Roman writers associated malaria with swamps.
The inquiring minds of mankind have always looked for ways to cure all sorts of ailments. What methods were not used for the treatment of malaria in ancient times: bloodletting, amputation of a bitten limb, use of opium ... Even astrologers were attracted who associated the frequency of occurrence of malaria fever with astronomical phenomena and the position of stars in the sky. Many turned to witchcraft. Scientist Albert Magnus, a Dominican, suggested treating malaria by eating small rolls made from the flour and urine of a sick person, as well as drinking a drink that included cognac, infected blood, and pepper.
The ancient Greek physician Galen, who worked in Rome, suggested that the vomiting that occurs with malaria is an attempt by the body to drive the poisons out, and bloodletting speeds up the cure. These principles have dominated medicine for fifteen hundred years. Countless malaria patients underwent bloodletting and forced cleansing of the stomach and intestines through enemas and vomiting. This led to disastrous results: people died from anemia and dehydration, as well as from the devastating symptoms of malaria in an even shorter time.
In China in the 2nd century BC in the writings of doctors, the plant described artemisia, or sweet wormwood, which was used as a remedy for malaria. Interestingly, in 1971, Chinese scientists isolated from it the active ingredient - artemisin. During the Vietnam War, active work was carried out to study the antimalarial properties of sweet wormwood. Extracted plants fed laboratory mice and rats infected with malaria strains. Artemisinin proved to be quite effective, as well as quinine and chloroquine. Derivatives of this substance today are part of powerful and effective antimalarial drugs.
The plasmodium species causing the development of malaria was first discovered by a French physician and scientist Laveran in the late 19th century. Russian researchers made a huge contribution to the study of the disease and the development of methods for its elimination. Among these scientists, E.I. Martsinovsky, V.A. Danilevsky, S.P. Botkin. During the First and Second World Wars, spikes in the incidence of malaria were noted.
Of the two hundred existing species of parasitic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, malaria causes at least ten. Among them, P. ovalecurtisi, P. wallikeri, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. knowlesi. The most severe and mortally dangerous malaria is caused by the microorganisms P. knowlesi and P. falciparumand. Infection leading to the development of the disease is transmitted exclusively by mosquitoes of the Anofeles genus. Infection with malaria becomes more likely during active trips around the world, especially to remote endemic areas of the planet, as well as when humans interact with wild animals.
Data
Malaria is a disease caused by parasitic protozoan plasmodia, which infects an average of 200 million people a year across the globe. As a result, for this reason, 500,000 deaths occur. The causative agent of malaria enters the body through the bites of malaria mosquitoes. What happens next? The malaria parasite goes through a complex life cycle in the body of a mosquito, and then in the body of an infected person. The cycle repeats if a mosquito bites a person who is already infected and has a parasite in its bloodstream that causes the malaria disease. A photo of the pathogen is presented below.
The areas with the highest mortality from this disease are Africa, Asia, Central and South America. Malaria is a disease that affects a very large number of people visiting these areas. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of cases (86%) are children under 5 years of age. About 40% of the global population is at risk of infection. The incubation period is from one to three weeks. Some people may become carriers of so-called sleeping parasites. In this case, activation of the infection can occur several months or even years after plasmodium malaria enters the body.
Signs
Malaria is a disease whose symptoms include chills, fever, headaches and muscle aches. Some patients experience nausea, vomiting, coughing, and diarrhea. The condition of the fever repeats every one, two or three days - this is the most typical manifestation of malaria. Trembling and a feeling of cold give way to the so-called hot stage, which is characterized by high fever, cramps, headaches and vomiting.
Complications are often signs of such a form of illness as tropical malaria. Due to the destruction of red blood cells and liver cells, jaundice of the skin and eye proteins, as well as diarrhea and cough, can be observed. In more rare cases, a rash appears on the body in the form of itchy reddish papules. By such signs, malaria is determined. A photo of the vector of the disease is presented above.
Severe forms, for example, if the causative agent of malaria is Plasmodium falciparum, are accompanied by problems such as:
- bleeding
- hepatic and renal failure;
- shock and coma;
- damage to the central nervous system.
Without timely treatment, these symptoms often lead to death.
How is it transmitted?
So, let us consider in more detail how the pathogen of malaria enters the body and develops in it. The life cycle of the malaria parasite Plasmodium is complex, the microorganism has two hosts - it is a person and a malaria mosquito. As mentioned above, the disease is transmitted through an insect bite, in which the parasite enters directly into the blood.
Sporozoites (immature plasmodia) travel through the human bloodstream and enter the liver. There they mature and infect red blood cells - red blood cells, inside of which they develop until the malaria carrier, a mosquito, again bites the patient. Once in the body of an insect, plasmodia penetrate its salivary glands, and with the next bite in the form of sporozoites, they again begin their life cycle in human blood.
The development processes of species such as P. ovale and P. vivax can be even more complex and include the formation of inactive forms - hypnosites, which often remain inactive for several weeks and even years. In the body of the malarial mosquito, plasmodia undergo the sexual period of their life cycle, and in the human body the pathogen is in the asexual phase, which is also called schizogony. Therefore, the development cycle of plasmodium in red blood cells is called erythrocyte schizogony.
How is the infection transmitted? Its sources are female malaria mosquitoes and an infected person (both sick and carrier). It is worth noting that malaria is a disease that is not transmitted among people by household or airborne droplets. Infection can occur only if the patient’s blood enters the body of a healthy person.
Diagnostic Features
If the above symptoms appear, especially after traveling, it is recommended to take tests for the presence of malarial plasmodium. Manifestations of many diseases may resemble symptoms of malaria. For example, yellow fever, typhoid fever, flu, cholera, measles and tuberculosis. Therefore, the doctor must know the travel history of the sick person in order to prescribe the necessary tests.
Diagnosis of malaria primarily involves the classic and most commonly used test - this is a blood smear test on a glass slide, which uses a staining indicator to indicate the presence of parasites inside red blood cells. Despite the fact that this test is considered quite simple, the correctness of the results largely depends on the technical skill of the laboratory assistant who prepares and examines blood products under a microscope.
Other tests that may help diagnose the disease:
- immunological tests;
- polymerase chain reaction.
Treatment
Features of therapy depend on several factors:
- the type of plasmodium that has entered the body;
- the patient’s clinical situation, for example, the treatment will be different for an adult, a child and a pregnant woman, for a severe and mild form of the disease;
- drug sensitivity of the pathogen.
The last factor depends on the geographical area in which the infection was received. The fact is that different regions of the world have different types of malarial plasmodia, which are resistant to certain drugs. Remedies for malaria can be selected correctly by a doctor who is familiar with the information from the protocols for treating malaria in different countries of the world. People infected with the P. falciparum species may die without starting treatment on time, so therapeutic measures should be taken immediately.
Mild forms of malaria are treated with oral medications. Complicated symptoms, such as severe anemia, impaired consciousness, coma, pulmonary edema, renal failure, acute respiratory syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, spontaneous bleeding, acidosis, the presence of hemoglobin in the urine, jaundice and generalized seizures, require intravenous administration of drugs.
How to get rid of malaria with medications? Treatment of an ailment with drugs does not always go well. Means "Aralen" is effective against all plasmodia, with the exception of strains of the parasite resistant to its active active substance, for example, Plasmodium ovale. The following treatment options can be used to combat chloroquine-resistant malaria species:
- Quinine sulfate in combination with antibiotics Doxycycline or Tetracycline.
- Preparations "Clindamycin" or "Maralon".
The treatment of malaria in most cases is based on template schemes adopted for a particular region. For example, the causative agent P. falciparum, acquired in the Middle East, is sensitive to chloroquine, but if infection with the same type of malaria occurred in Africa, then this substance may not bring positive results in treatment.
Modern scientists have developed treatment regimens based on a combination of drugs with derivatives of the active antimalarial compound - artemisin. Examples of combination drugs:
- "Artesunate-Amodiaquin."
- "Artesunat-Meflohin."
- "Dihydroartemisin-Piperakhin."
The development of new treatments for malaria is ongoing, which is associated with an increase in the number of plasmodium strains resistant to drugs. One of the promising compounds in creating effective drugs for malaria is spiroindolone, which has been shown to be effective against a variety of P. falciparum in a number of experiments.
The drug Primakhin can be used to treat forms of malaria, the causative agents of which have been inactive in the liver for a long time. This can prevent severe relapse of the disease. Pregnant women should not take Primachin. This drug is contraindicated in people who are deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. For this reason, the drug is not prescribed until the diagnostic screening test does not exclude the presence of this problem. In some countries, in addition to oral and injectable drugs, suppositories are also used.
The disease during the period of gestation
Malaria is a serious threat to a pregnant woman and her fetus. Infection significantly increases the risk of premature birth and stillbirth. Statistics show that in sub-Saharan Africa, up to 30% of children die from malaria every year. Therefore, all pregnant women who live in dangerous areas or plan to travel there should always consult a doctor and take their prescribed medications, for example, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. This is a necessary prevention of malaria to avoid infection.
Treatment of the disease in women expecting a baby is performed according to the standard scheme discussed above. However, drugs such as Primachin, Tetracycline, Doxycycline, and Halofantrine are not recommended due to the potential danger to the fetus.
Disease in children
Prevention of malaria is mandatory for all children, including infants, living or staying for some time in the areas of the spread of this disease. The following agents can act as preventive: “Chloroquine” and “Meflohin”.
It is very important to use the right dosage for the child, which depends on his age and weight. Before traveling with a baby to all countries at risk, all parents should consult with a specialist in the field of childhood infectious diseases regarding the treatment and prevention of the disease in question. Since an overdose of an antimalarial drug can be fatal, all medicines must be stored in a place inaccessible to children, for example, in tightly closed containers.
Infection prevention
If a person intends to travel to areas where malaria is prevalent, he must first find out what drugs and dosages must be taken to prevent infection. It is recommended that you start taking these drugs two weeks before the intended trip, during your stay in the country and for a month after returning from the trip. Currently, the vaccine against malaria has not been created, but intensive research is underway, the vaccine is under development.
If possible, avoid visiting countries with a high percentage of infected people, otherwise malaria prophylaxis is required - this can save your health and save your life. If you are a traveler, try to always be aware of where the current outbreaks are. A malaria carrier can land on human skin at any time of the day, but most bites occur at night. Insects are also most active at dawn and dusk. Avoid staying outdoors during these hours. Prevention of infection is very important, given that the vaccine against malaria has not been created.
Wear appropriate clothing - wear trousers, long-sleeved shirts, high closed shoes instead of open sandals, as well as hats. Tuck your clothes into your pants. Use insecticidal repellents, for example, you can recommend Permethrin, which processes clothing and equipment. Remember that good products contain up to fifty percent diethyltoluamide. Mosquito nets are especially necessary when the room is not ventilated, for example, there is no air conditioning. Treat them with aerosol repellents. Mosquito coils are also recommended.
Vaccine
There are currently no malaria vaccines available. However, over the past few years, researchers have achieved good results with experimental vaccines. The latest major clinical trials involving children from eight African countries, sponsored by the Bill Gates Foundation, have shown that the drug under study was effective in half the cases. Many other experiments have also become successful and predict reliable protection from the described ailment in the near future. Experts say that the malaria vaccine will appear within 3-10 years. The intended action is based on interrupting the parasite’s life cycle with a protein preparation that produces antibodies against it.
Types of disease
The main varieties of pathogens were mentioned above. The course of the disease can also vary. The main types of malaria are:
- tropical;
- three days;
- four day;
- malaria-ovale.
Four-day malaria manifests itself in a six to ten-hour duration of bouts of fever, which usually begins in the morning or afternoon. Severe consequences rarely develop, the incubation period can be up to 5 months. Tropical malaria is characterized by a high concentration of parasites in the blood, the fever is not pronounced, often there are symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, lesions of the central nervous system, renal failure. Often complications develop. Three-day malaria is manifested by severe fever, including chills, increased sweating and fever, but a fuzzy alternation with periods of remission.
Folk remedies
Medicines are the basis for treating malaria. But many sources point to the benefits of some natural remedies in the treatment of a disease caused by plasmodia. Here we publish only some of them, and in no case should these recipes and recommendations be considered as the main means of treatment.
Lime and lemon are helpful for a four-day fever. About three grams of chalk is dissolved in 60 ml of water and the juice of one lemon or lime is added. This composition must be drunk before the onset of fever.
Alum is also considered a supportive treatment for malaria. They are fried in a hot frying pan and crushed into powder. Inside take a teaspoon of the product four hours before the suspected fever and half a teaspoon two hours after it.