Common Killer Diseases in the Tropics: Malaria

Anopheles Mosquito. Image credit voanews.com

• Malaria is one of the most widespread diseases in Tropical Africa.
• It is caused by a parasite called plasmodium,
• which is transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito.
• When a female anopheles mosquito bites a patient, it draws up some blood containing the parasite.
• The malarial parasites pass through several developmental stages within the body of the mosquito before
• finding their way to the mosquito’s salivary glands.
• The parasite enters the bloodstream of the next victim the mosquito bites.
• The parasite then enters the red blood cells of the victim.
• They will grow and multiply until they replace all the haemoglobin in the red cells.
• As the cell breaks up it releases the parasites to attack more cells.
• Symptoms of malaria include; fever, weakness in the joints, headache, chills and sweating, accompanied by drowsiness and confusion.
• Malaria can be treated with malaria drugs such as chloroquine and fancida.
• The disease can be prevented through the use of anti-mosquito coils, creams, soaps and anti-malaria drugs.
• The most effective way is to disrupt the mosquito’s life cycle.
• This can be done by covering breeding areas of the mosquito such as pits, draining marshed and swamps.
• The pouring of oil or paraffin on stagnant water can also disrupt the cycle.
• Certain type of fish can also be introduced to feed on the mosquito larvae.

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