|
Malaria is a disease that affects the blood and is a parasitical infection. The parasite which causes the disease is transmitted through people by specific types of mosquitoes. The symptoms of malaria become visible around nine to fourteen days following the infectious mosquito bite, and include include fever, vomiting headache, and other symptoms similar to those of flu. Malaria is an easily treatable disease that can be cured completely and if proper medication and treatment is followed there is not much cause for worry. Unfortunately there is a very high mortality rate mostly because of delayed treatment, non compliance, absence of medications and drug resistance. Delays or absence of medication required for treatment and even resistant streins of the parasite can lead to serious complications. The patient could go into a coma, a severe anemia that is life threatening could develop, and the red blood cells could also be infected and destroyed leading to death. It can also cause clogging of the capillaries responsible for carrying blood to the brain, a condition called cerebral malaria, or other vital organs. The disease is most devastating in Africa, where it is a major cause of death for children. It is estimated that the dreaded disease kills a child every thirty seconds.
Even amongst the children who do survive a severe malaria episode there are many that suffer from learning impairments and at times even brain damage. Pregnant women are also very vulnerable to malaria and so is the unborn child. Malarial infections during pregnancy are a very big cause for mortalities from the disease and it can also result in maternal anemia and low birth weight.
For these reasons, despite the fact that the disease is easily preventable and can be treated effectively, malarial infections still show a very high mortality rate.
|
