Infectious Diseases and HIV Conference

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that has been transferred to humans from the genus Plasmodium by the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

It remains one of the most important public health problems in many tropical and subtropical regions, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America, creating enormous challenges for the healthcare system and still affecting millions worldwide.

There are five species of Plasmodium and the one most commonly infecting and deadly is Plasmodium falciparum. The remaining include Plasmodium visa, Plasmodium oval, and Plasmodium malariae.Malaria symptoms start after ten to fifteen days since somebody is bitten by an infected mosquito.

The common symptoms are: Fever and chills,Sweating,Headaches,Nausea and,vomiting,Muscle and joint pains, Fatigue, Malaria can be accompanied with severe complications which may range from anemia to respiratory difficulty, organ failure, and even death in case the condition is not attended to for a longer period.

Malaria is primarily transmitted within areas where Anopheles mosquitoes are known to breed.

The majority of these areas are warm and humid. There is a high risk of malaria within areas where the mosquitoes are available and where there is poor access to prevention facilities.

Prevention measures primarily involve the reduction and regulation of mosquito populations and contact. Key components involve: Insecticidal bed nets: Those who sleep under them lower their risk of mosquito bite at nighties: House-spraying with insecticides on the walls and surfaces to kill the mosquitoes and prevent them breeding. Chemoprophylaxis: drugs can be administered to travelers going to malaria-endemic areas before travel to prevent infection at source. Treatment of malaria primarily revolves around antimalarial drugs: the type of drug used is usually determined by the species of Plasmodium and also by the severity of disease.

The most frequently used drugs include: Artemisinin combination therapies: These are the drugs that have been approved as first-line drugs for treatment for uncomplicated malaria due to Plasmodium Much effort has been made in the global arena to fight malaria, which encompasses both prevention and diagnosis efforts as well as access to treatment with concurrent investment in research toward the development of malaria vaccines and novel control measures.

The World Health Organization has set ambitious goals with respect to reducing malaria incidence and mortality with the ultimate goal of elimination.

Fighting the destructive disease of malaria means understanding the complexities and protecting vulnerability at all levels-from governments and NGOs to communities.