MALARIAMalaria is a serious problem. More people die of malaria today than 30 years ago. This is partly because the world’s population has grown so much. It also means we are not winning the fight against malaria.Malaria is one of the world’s worst health problems. It kills somewhere between 1.5 to 2.7 million people each year. Most who die are children under 5 years of age. The main symptoms are fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, weakness, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Convulsions (violent shaking) and unconsciousness are extremely dangerous signs.Malaria is a caused by tiny
parasites seen only under a microscope. Malaria germs come in four families, each with slightly different effects. The most dangerous family is called falciparum, the most common from of malaria in Africa. Many of these parasites have grown
resistant, unaffected by common medicines such as chloroquin. New medicines are being discovered, but they are expensive and not available everywhere.Malaria is a parasite that requires both
mosquitoes and people to survive. Female mosquitoes need blood in order to make eggs, so they suck blood from animals, birds, and humans. When a female
Mosquito sucks blood, it may become infected by the malaria
Parasite. The parasite lives in the
saliva gland of the mosquito. The mosquito does not get sick. When it bites the next person, it may pass the parasites to the new victim. Mosquitoes suck blood through a tiny tube. To make the blood flow more easily, they inject saliva that makes blood flow easily. Because malaria parasites prefer the saliva glands of mosquitoes, they are easily injected into the new victim. In this way the parasite goes back and forth between humans and mosquitoes. The parasite grows in a person’s blood and liver. It multiplies inside the blood and liver cells, damaging them as it does so. Because of this damage, the person falls sick. The control of malaria requires many approaches. One of the most successful methods is to control the number of mosquitoes. Insecticides (chemicals used to kill insects) were at first very successful, but the cost, the dangers to humans and other animals, as well as mosquitoes becoming resistant to the insecticides have limited the success of these methods. Today, with both mosquitoes and malaria parasites becoming resistant to insecticides, the situation is very serious. Countries in which malaria was once wiped out are again reporting cases of malaria. Western Asia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have all recently reported several thousand cases. Turkey, Iraq, and South Korea have reported large increases in cases of malaria.There is no simple single solution to malaria. While scientists work on a vaccine, and new treatments are developed, individuals can help.First, we should clean up anything that can hold water from around our houses (old cans, tires, pots, etc.). Plants such as aloe or sisal that hold water in the joint where the leaf comes from the stem should be removed. Windows and doors should be fitted with screens to keep mosquitoes out. Where malaria is wide spread, we should sleep under mosquito nets. These nets should be dipped every three to four months in an insecticide called permethrin and left to dry. A cloth soaked in permethrin and hung on an inside wall will lower the incidence of malaria in that household by 60 percent. If a family member becomes ill, seek immediate treatment. Periodic spraying of insecticide in the house may kill hidden mosquitoes. Malaria is a serious problem that is getting worse. We all need to do our part seriously no matter where we live.
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