Malaria Flashcards
1
Q
What is malaria
A
It is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes
2
Q
Which mosquito transmits malaria
A
Anopheles
3
Q
Physiological effects
A
- typically, malaria produces fever, chills, headaches, muscle ache, vomiting and other flu-like symptoms
- some people can develop complications such as brain disease (cerebral malaria), severe anemia and kidney failure
- babies born to women who had malaria during the pregnancy are often born prematurely or with low birth weight
4
Q
Death from malaria is due to:
A
- Destruction of red blood cells (anaemia)
2. Clogging of the capillaries that take blood to the brain
5
Q
Cost to individuals and their families
A
- payment of drugs for tearing malaria at home
- transport costs
- lost days of work
- expenses for preventative measures
- expenses for burial in cases of death
6
Q
Costs to governments
A
- maintenance of health facilities
- purchase of drugs and supplies
- public health interventions against malaria
- lost days of work resulting in loss of income
- loss of tourism income
7
Q
Treating the illness
A
The most effective current treatment is a 3 day course using a multi-drug treatment that includes Artemisia. Artesmisa destroys drug resistant plasmids in the bloodstream
8
Q
Destroying the mosquitos
A
- using insecticide-treated nets
- spraying with DDT
9
Q
A vector
A
Mosquito acts as a vector transmitting the disease-causing micro-organism from one infected person to another
