Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Each year, it causes disease in approximately 650 million people and kills between one and three million, most of them young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is commonly associated with poverty, but is also a cause of poverty and a major hindrance to economic development.
How is malaria transmitted?
As is well known, malaria is transmitted to people by mosquitos. The scientific name of the particular type of mosquito is Anopheles. An infected Anopheles mosquito bites a person and injects the malaria parasites into the blood. The malaria parasites then travel through the bloodstream to the liver and eventually infect the red blood cells.
Symptoms
* Chills * Fever * Sweating * Headache * Nausea * Vomiting * Muscle pain * Anemia
Other signs and symptoms include:
* Diarrhea
Exams and Tests
The doctor will perform blood tests to determine if you have malaria and, if so, which type.
* These tests sometimes are difficult to complete and may have to be repeated or the results sent to another hospital. * Doctors also may perform DNA tests.
Treatment
A malaria infection, particularly with P. falciparum, requires prompt evaluation and treatment. In most cases, doctors can treat malaria effectively with one or more of the following medications:
* Chloroquine (Aralen) * Quinine sulfate * Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) * Combination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine (Fansidar) * Mefloquine (Lariam) * Combination of atovaquone and proguanil (Malarone) * Doxycycline (Doryx, Vibramycin, others)
Prevention
Health authorities try to prevent malaria by using mosquito-control programs aimed at killing mosquitoes that carry the disease. If you travel to an area of the world with a high risk for malaria, you can install window screens, use insect repellents, and place mosquito netting over beds. Insecticide-impregnated bed netting has successfully reduced the number of malarial deaths among African children.
One of the major problems is the steady increase in resistance of the infection to the drugs used in both prevention and treatment. There's also been some controversy about possible side-effects. Always talk to your doctor if you are worried - don't just stop taking antimalarials without getting medical advice.
If you do develop symptoms, get help quickly - and don't forget to tell the doctor you've travelled to a malarial area.
If you are planning to travel abroad, you may need certain travel immunization. Which vaccinations will be required will depend on your travel destination, the length of your stay, and whether or not you have already been inoculated against particular diseases. Consult a physician or travel medicine clinic at least four to six weeks before your departure in order to allow the recommended time for vaccinations to be effective. This is especially important for those whose travel destinations include tropical areas or developing countries. Immunizations against diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera, as well as drugs that protect you against malaria are vital to your health. Here is some travel vaccination advice obtained from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Showing proof at customsImmigration officials in some countries may ask you for immunization certification as proof that you have had vaccines against cholera and yellow fever; you may also have to prove to certain overseas employers that you have had your childhood vaccinations, such as those for chicken pox, measles, and polio. Because different countries have different diseases, you should consult the federal government's health department to get a current list of countries and their prevalent diseases, as well as the mandatory inoculation for those countries. If you are uncertain of your immunization record, ask your current, past, and childhood physicians for a list of vaccines you have received.
MalariaIf you are traveling to an area where malaria is prevalent, you will need to purchase a sufficient supply of anti-malarial drugs which you must begin to take one full week before departure, for the entire duration of your visit, and for the continuing four weeks after leaving the malarial area. The actual medication prescribed will depend on the particular strain of malaria present in the country you are visiting. Moreover, travelers must take personal protective measures to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. It is wise to consult a physician or travel medicine clinic in order to obtain travel advice with regards to malaria.
Yellow feverA vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory for entry into certain countries in Central Africa and South America. Travelers to these countries must possess an international certificate of vaccination that certifies that they have had yellow fever vaccination. An additional 102 countries require this certificate if there has been a stop-over in a region where yellow fever exists.
Travel vaccination advice
Ensure that your vaccines against illnesses such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles,chicken pox, mumps and rubella are up-to-date
Consider immunization against typhoid and hepatitis A if travelincludes areas where sanitary conditions are poor
Inform yourself on the particular risks involved when traveling to remote areas where immunization against meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, European tick-borne encephalitis,hepatitis B or rabies is required
Although most vaccines can be administered on short notice, four to six weeks prior to departure is recommended in order to maximize your protection as it takes time for your body to build immunity. Travel immunization provides protection, but it is not a substitute for proper personal hygiene, mosquito precautions, and careful selection of food and water sources. A health professional will be able to assess your personal travel immunization and preventative medication needs, depending on your physical health condition, previous immunization history, and travel itinerary.
An environment water
What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The lush growth rising above the water, graceful fish darting about and the soothing sound of the water. These are just a few of the reasons people are drawn to water gardens. But when you think about adding a water feature to your garden, you are torn, because you know that a charming pond can also be a mosquito hatchery. And, everyone is concerned; rightly, about mosquitoes and the diseases they spread. It is true, mosquitoes do need water to breed, but at the same time, there are so many effective ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in ponds, you should not let that stop you. Water gardeners are in a unique position; they can have wet spaces that can actually help stop mosquitoes from breeding. Just a few simple precautions are all you need to feel safe and enjoy such a wonderful addition to the landscape. If you have a water garden, or want one, try these suggestions. ØHave moving water in your water garden. Mosquitoes will not lay eggs in running water. The newly hatched mosquito must rest on the water's surface for a few minutes to let its wings dry. If the water is moving, the female mosquito will not lay eggs there. ØGet some mosquito fish for your pond. Mosquito fish, or gambusia affinis, are very aggressive predators of mosquito larvae. They are also aggressive to other fish and will also eat dragonfly larvae, or nymphs. If mosquito fish are too predatory for your particular tastes, several other types of fish readily consume mosquito larvae, such as guppies, killifish, and small goldfish. Koi are too large and will not target the larvae. ØAdd Bti to your pond. Bti is a naturally occurring type of bacillus that is eaten by the mosquito larvae, and rapidly kills them. It is not harmful to fish, pets, wildlife or humans. It is sold under such names as Mosquito Dunks, or Mosquito Bits. ØAdd dragonfly larvae, or nymphs, to your pond. They are voracious predators of mosquito larvae, and while the mosquito larvae stay in that stage for only a few days, the dragonfly nymphs stay in the larval stage for up to two years, and can prey on many generations of mosquito larvae. And, when they become adults, the dragonfly feeds on adult mosquitoes too. ØInvite toads into your yard. One toad can consume up to 100 mosquitoes and slugs per night. They lay their eggs in water, so the pond will attract them. If happy with its environment, a toad can grace your garden for up to 20 years. And the tadpoles will eat mosquito larvae also. ØAs an overall precaution, get a propane powered mosquito trap, such as the Mosquito Magnet, to reduce the mosquito population in your garden area. These are the most effective mosquito killers around, and they will capture (and kill) the mosquitoes that your natural controls miss. With the growing concern about mosquito diseases, like West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever, it is natural to feel reluctance to add any water source around your home. With the right precautions, you can beautify your garden and still feel secure that you are not inviting mosquitoes into your immediate environment.If water gardening appeals to you, just educate yourself, take the needed precautions, and get ready to enjoy the beauty and serenity a water feature adds to your home.
malaria bite people dead
There are many reasons why mosquitoes are so widespread around the planet. Like almost all organisms, they rely on water to survive, but in this case, they tend to favor standing pools of water to lay eggs. Standing pools of water can be found at some moments during the year in nearly all climate zones except the arctic cold of the polar regions (though Global Warming is changing this). For example, melting snow in the alpine regions can saturate the ground in late spring and early summer to create marshy conditions full of standing water in meadows, valleys, and plateaus. This also explains why mosquitoes are found in the desert lining rivers, creeks, and springs as water is scarce and only concentrated in these areas on the surface. Moreover, the tropical regions are natural places to harbor standing pools of water as the humidity, frequent rainfall, and dense vegetation help maintain the conditions favorable to mosquitoes throughout the year. In fact, the tropical regions are where the species are most abundant, and unlike other climate zones, they do not have population variations where their numbers significantly reduce or grow depending on the seasons. So given all these factors, it's no wonder why I constantly run into mosquitoes in my waterfall adventures as we standing water is an inevitable part of such ecosystems.
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The mechanism by which mosquitoes draw blood is through a multi-syringe-like mouth called the proboscis. It is through the proboscis that saliva (containing anticoagulants) is secreted to keep the blood from clotting and thus making it easier for the mosquito to draw blood - often times without you feeling anything due to an anesthetic-like substance. However, it's also this saliva that tends to induce an allergic reaction that often swells and becomes itchy. That's usually when we finally realize that we've been bitten. Usually their bites are merely annoyances, but mosquitoes can also pick up viruses and bacteria from one organism and transmit them to others - thus making them disease vectors. It is this fact alone that has perhaps made mosquitoes one of the biggest killers (at least to humans) on the planet. It has been said that more people have died from mosquito-borne illnesses such as Yellow Fever, Malaria, Encephalitis (including West Nile), Dengue Fever, etc. than has all the wars throughout human history combined! Mosquito-born diseases are transmitted to 69 million people with 5.3 million of them dying every year. This explains why certain regions of the world seem to be very prone to such diseases (e.g. the presence of malaria in Malaysia). With the advent of Global Warming, the population of mosquitoes and the consequent spread of diseases will increase as more parts of the planet will have climates favorable to their existence.
There are some measures we can take in order to prevent or minimize the adverse impacts of mosquitoes on us while participating in nature-based activities. One approach is to wear enough clothing to minimize the amount of exposed skin. The problem with this is that mosquitoes are usually located in warm and humid areas so this can make you unbearably hot while losing more water through sweat to keep the body cool. A second approach is to apply bug repellant containing DEET, which seems to be quite effective in confusing the mosquitoes' chemical sensors. Unfortunately, there are certain health risks associated with this chemical (it has been known to burn plastic) so it ultimately comes down to a trade-off between your assessment of the risk of disease versus the unintended effects of DEET. There are other types of repellant out there, but they don't seem as effective (e.g. in my experience, Avon's Skin So Soft hardly works even though it's not as toxic as DEET-based repellants). Finally, you can do the best you can to keep moving since mosquitoes can only fly so fast and for so long. Usually a combination of the above measures gives you the least chance getting bit by a mosquito while being out in nature because each of these measures has drawbacks.
In conclusion, the relationship between mosquitoes and humans are all part of the checks and balances of Nature and natural selection. In other words, we are part of the food chain and the cycle of life. And it is for this reason that they play a key role in supplying food for other insects and more complex organisms feeding on them. So we ought to respect the mosquitoes as survivors as well as role players in the overall scheme of things. Even though most of us don't like them, they're here to stay so we mind as well cope with living with them.
The severe itch from a mosquito bite is sufficient to make anyone go nuts, and even though bites are for the most part merely a bother, mosquitoes are able to transfer malaria and other infections to people in a number of parts of the world. The reason female mosquitoes bite is because they require blood for the development of their eggs, and they sometimes appear as if they choose certain people to bite. If you are ill fated enough to be feasted upon every summer, what action can you take to dodge these minute bloodthirsty bugs?
Insect repellents you put on your skin
A considerable range of topical insect repellents are available on the market, which when applied to bare skin can be somewhat helpful in keeping mosquitoes and numerous other biting and stinging insects away. Repellents which have the chemical pesticide Deet (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) in them are especially effective at giving protection, and are generally regarded as the most helpful. When putting topical insect repellents straight on the skin great attention needs to be paid to the information on the label.
Mosquito wristbands
Wristbands that contain insect repellent can possibly give a defence against biting mosquitoes, and could be a more practical option than lotions which are tiresome and tricky to put on. What's more, mosquito wristbands can also be put on around the ankle. You are also able to get mosquito repellent adhesive patches, the adhesive surface of which is fixed on to clothing material or skin.
Insect screens for windows and doors
Put a stop to mosquitoes and other insects coming into the room via doors and windows by installing fine mesh fly screens, which can be bought 'made to measure' or trimmed in 'do it yourself' style to the required measurements. Adhesive strips or hinges are used to mount the screens to door and window frames so that fresh air and the light of day can be allowed in and the insects can be kept out.
Mosquito room sprays
Insecticide room sprays can assist in preventing mosquitoes from getting into the room. Try spraying rooms just before leaving them. Spray close to doors and windows, and ensure they are kept closed as far as possible. In order to stop becoming too warm, try and spend time in rooms that have air conditioning or fans, as air turbulence has a habit of making mosquitoes less lively.
Plug in insecticides
Plug in insecticides are plugged into an electrical socket and different kinds are available to fit different sockets. The plugs are filled with insecticide liquid or impregnated tablets, which give off an insecticide vapour into the air discouraging and destroying biting insects. Liquid and tablet refills for the plug in units are widely available, and it is essential they be used frequently so that the defence the plug ins give against mosquitoes can be sustained.
Protective mosquito nets
Mosquito nets offer protection from a mosquito attack, and are available soaked with insecticide for added defence. They can be hanging from the ceiling overhanging the bed, or moveable, self-supporting nets that spring into shape for use above a portable bed when moving from place to place could be more appropriate. You can purchase nets in a range of shapes and dimensions depending on your needs, and they are also made to cover pushchairs and children's play pens.
Mosquito smoke coils
Mosquito smoke coils are made use of outside and ought not to be used in the house. When burned, the smouldering coils unleash an insecticidal smoke, which keeps away biting insects. Smoke coils are especially helpful for staving off flying pests when unwinding outside after sundown, and for stopping them slinking indoors via doors and windows.
Additional precautions to deter biting mosquitoes
Conceal skin with clothing as much as you are able by wearing long trousers, and long sleeved tops and socks, and don't forget mosquitoes can bite right the way through skin-tight clothes. Dress in bright colours, as it is considered that mosquitoes are more drawn to dark colours. Hairspray, anti-perspirant deodorants and other fragrances will make you more appealing to them as well, so contemplate putting on fragrance-free toiletries. As a rule people are more likely to get bitten by mosquitoes at dusk and at nighttime, so aim to steer clear of going out-of-doors within these times.
Many insects bite or sting, but few can cause serious symptoms by themselves, unless of course, the person is allergic to them. However, some insects transmit diseases. For example, certain types of mosquitoes transmit malaria, yellow fever, and other diseases; certain types of ticks transmit spotted or Rocky Mountain fever: and certain types of biting flies transmit tularemia or rabbit fever.
Occasionally, stinging or biting insects that have been feeding on or have been in contact with poisonous substances can transmit this poison at the time of the sting or bite.
Persons who have experienced serious reactions from pervious insect bites should be urged to secure any possible immunization or have an antidote readily available to prevent more serious reactions from future insect bites and stings.
Although most people have heard about the correlation between mosquitoes and West Nile virus, there are many diseases carried by mosquitoes that the general population does not know about. Sadly, if a news station does not report on a person contracting a "mosquito disease" most people will not know that these diseases even exist. Mosquitoes are one of the dirtiest, and deadliest, creatures known to man, and these little bothers may just be responsible for man than you think.
Some of the viral diseases carried by mosquitoes include, yellow fever; dengue fever; epidemic polyarthritis; Rift Valley fever; Ross River Fever; St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, LaCross encephalitis, and many other types of invasive diseases. Mosquitoes are solely responsible for malaria, which happens to be the world's leading cause of premature death. Since most North American news stations do not report on deaths caused by malaria, most of us are entirely unaware of the real threat that mosquitoes can pose.
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