ProWriters Hub Week 3: Malaria: The Cause, Effects And How To Protect Oneself From It. 26/7/2022

Preamble

Over the years thousands of deaths has been recorded all around the world with Africa and South Asia having the highest records as a result of a deadly disease. The killer disease has been known to be Malaria. It is said that over 90% of deaths in Africa is caused by malaria and most of the people who die are young children of below 5 years
In this post, we would be looking at "Malaria: the cause, effects and how to protect oneself from it.

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What is Malaria?

Malaria is a serious and deadly disease that affects someone who was bitten by mosquitoes which has been infected by parasites
These mosquitoes are the types that feed on humans and animals and once they have been infected by the parasites, they are prone to transfer it to the bloodstream of whoever they bite.
I will say that Malaria is a parasitic causing disease.

What Causes Malaria

Malaria usually occurs when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites someone, thereby injecting the disease causing parasite to the person's bloodstream. Once the parasites enters it goes to the red blood cells and begins to multiply and spread

• Malaria can be transfered from one person to another. When a mosquito bites someone who has malaria, the mosquito becomes infected and when that same mosquito bites another person, it transfers a parasite to that person’s bloodstream.
• Since malaria parasite is found in red blood cells of an infected person, it's likely possible that malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ donation / transplant, or the use of hypodermic needles/ syringes, although these rarely happens.
• Another way malaria may occur is when a woman has malaria while pregnant, it can be transmitted to her unborn baby either before or during delivery, but it is also a rare case.

There are five species of plasmodium (malaria parasites) that can infect humans, they are;

• Plasmodium falciparum otherwise called
  P. falciparum is a life threatening type of malaria parasite such that when it's severe, the sufferer may develop liver and kidney failure, convulsion, coma. This is also called cerebral malaria.
• Plasmodium vivax or P. vivax
• Plasmodium ovale or P. ovale
  These two types of malaria parasites usually cause less severe sickness but can remain dormant in the liver of an infected person for months even a year with the the person having no sign or symptoms, after then it will then reappear.
• Plasmodium malariae or P. malariae
• Plasmodium Knowles also called P. knowlesi

The Symptoms I Experience When I Have Malaria

Generally, the signs and symptoms of malaria have same similarity with that of flu or cold. These symptoms usually appear between ten days to one month after the person was infected. Let's see some of the symptoms

• Headache and muscle aches
• Fever.
• Cold
• Fatigue.
• Chest pain.
• Difficulty in breathing
• Cough.
• Diarrhea.
• Nauseous feelings and vomiting.
  The malaria can be severe such that it can cause anemia, and jaundice or even brain damage.

Personally, the initial symptoms I usually have which show that I have malaria are
*Backache: It will seem like I'm carrying heavy loads on my back.

• Waist pain: If I bend over, I will be find it difficult in getting up again.
• Again is muscle ache: I will begin to experience difficulty in lifting my legs especially when climbing the stairs.
  Sometimes if I ignore the initial signs and attribute it to stress or maybe take analgesics it will stop and after a while, the signs will reappear accompanied by severe fever and chills, loss of appetite, weakness such that if I walk a long distance I will get tired. At this point I will have no other choice but to either go to a diagnostic center first to get tested or go to a hospital straight

How Common Is Malaria In My Street Or City?

It is well known that malaria is common in tropical areas hot temperatures and high humidity These places are Africa, South Central and South America, Dominican Republic, Haiti and other areas in the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, South and Southeast Asia, Islands in the Central and South Pacific Ocean etc.
Coming to my city, Aba which is one of the cities in Nigeria, West Africa, malaria is very much common because there are so many uncovered sewage areas, gutters, waste bins, dirty environments etc which are brooding ground for mosquitoes. In fact in some parts of the Aba, mosquitoes has a warehouse where they are packed and released when the dawn of the day rears its head. Take a look at the Waterside side bridge in Ogbor Hill, there are days you will pass there especially in the evenings you will be greeted with a multitude of mosquitoes flying around. With that influx, the mosquitoes will spread to nearby streets and homes, and if the people living around there do not protect themselves, they will definitely be bitten by these hungry mosquitoes thereby leading to the increase in the cases of malaria.
In the neighborhood where I stay especially my compound, it's not very common because there's no gutter or waterways nearby. But most times during the dry season, there might be an outbreak of mosquitoes. This I have experienced several times and I always have mosquito repellent and insecticides handy.

Practical Ways To Prevent The Spread Of Malaria

There are so many ways to prevent the spread of malaria in our environment;

• First we should try as much as possible to keep our surroundings clean, clean up the gutters desilt the water logged areas, weed our compounds, remove any empty containers that may collect water etc. All these steps are to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.
• Secondly if you live in or visit a mosquito infested environment, it is important that you protect yourself and take precautions to avoid mosquito bite, thereby reducing your chances of getting malaria. This you can do by;
  Sleeping under a well treated mosquito net.
  Putting nets if possible treated ones, on windows and doors.
  Applying mosquito repellent with DEET on exposed skin.
  Spraying of insecticides in all parts of the house before retiring for the night.
  Putting on long wears, trouser, long sleeves and socks if possible, to cover your skin.
• If you are already infected and you notice the signs, contact your health care provider immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Complete your medication dosage, do not stop half way when you notice that you are feeling better. It is drug abuse and you are exposing yourself to a recurrence case of malaria which might be deadly.
  

Insecticide and mosquito repellent spray and hand band.

Have You Used Any Drugs To Effectively Treat Malaria?

There are so many antimalarial drugs that can effectively be used to treat malaria.
I can remember when I was small, each time I have symptoms of malaria, my dad will give me Chloroquine tablets which is very much effective in the cure of malaria. But because there's always an adverse effect of chloroquine to my body, he will give me Piriton to drink first before I take the Chloroquine or he will administer Chloroquine injection. This will send the malaria packing 😂.
Due to the high resistance of malaria parasites to some drugs, drugs that as combinations of Artemether and Lumefantrine is usually prescribed.
Some of the drugs I have used are; Artesunate, Fansidar, Laridox,
Amartem soft gel, Clartem

End Note

Malaria is a serious disease which has kills thousands of people across the world yearly. Anyone can be infected with it. If you live in a mosquito infested environment, you are prone to have it but you should try to protect yourself.
Malaria is not air bone and cannot spread from person to person like a cold or flu neither can it be sexually transmitted. If you notice any symptoms, seek medical care immediately

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