Malaria: A Pest-borne Disease
Malaria is one of the most prevalent and life-threatening diseases around the globe. It is one of the deadliest diseases, and 290 million individuals get infected with malaria every year. Alarmingly, about 400,000 people have died from the disease. It is transmitted through the bite of a specific kind of mosquito (female anopheles). This mosquito carries a protozoan parasite known as plasmodium falciparum. The parasite completes its life cycle in humans and mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a human, it also injects parasites with saliva. When an uninfected mosquito bites the infected person, it transfers the parasite to the mosquito. Thus, this cycle keeps going on. Once the parasite enters the human body, it makes its way to the liver, where it can stay dormant for a year. After it matures, it multiplies in red blood cells, which leads to anemia. At this point, a person starts developing malarial symptoms. These symptoms include chills, headaches, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rapid heart rate, muscle pain, and muscle pain.
One of the main causes behind the elevating prevalence of malaria infection is a lack of hygiene and awareness. The implications of the disease are more severe in areas where there is reduced access to preventive drugs and medical facilities.
Risk factors for malaria
One of the risk factors for malaria is the migration of people to areas with a high prevalence of malarial cases. The disease is more common in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan countries, and Central America. Moreover, infants, young children, older adults, and pregnant women, along with their unborn babies, are more at risk of developing a severe form of disease.
Vaccine for Malaria
The World Health Organization has recommended vaccines for children to reduce the prevalence of the disease. Hence, it’s important to take the necessary precautions and preventive measures to get rid of this disease. Use insecticidal sprays and bed nets to save yourself from the attack of this fatal mosquito. Apart from that, maintain cleanliness and don’t let water stand. Because stagnant water is one of the favorite places for mosquitoes to breed.
Conclusion
Malaria is a fatal and prevalent disease that needs to be controlled by adopting serious preventive and treatment measures. To reduce the frequency of the disease, maintain cleanliness, use insecticidal sprays, bed nets, and protective clothing.