Malaria Flashcards
How is Malaria transmitted?
Through the bites of infected female mosquitoes
What region bares the largest malaria-burden?
Africa with 90% of malaria cases and 92% of deaths
How many died from malaria in 2015?
430 000
Who are most at risk from developing severe disease?
Infants, children, pregnant women, HIV infected, migrants, travellers and mobile populations
Symptoms of malaria?
Starts out mild with generic symptoms but can progress unless treated quickly and lead to death
What symptoms can you have if you have severe malaria in children?
Anaemia, respiratory distress, cerebral malaria
When do the important vectors bite?
Between dusk and dawn
How do anopheles reproduce?
Eggs laid in water, hatch into larvae and then emerges as adult mosquitoes
What can affect the survival of the mosquitoes?
Rainfall patterns, temperature and humidity
What does human immunity mean in regards to malaria?
Long term exposure has meant that humans living in those areas are partly protected and thus the adults are usually fine while the children are at risk
How do you prevent malaria?
Vector control
What are the two main forms of vector control for malaria?
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying
What is LLINs
Long-lasting insecticidal nets
What is an disadvantage of LLINs?
Heat, impractical and lack of belief in efficiany
How long is IRS effective?
3-6 months
What is an disadvantage of IRS?
Costly and risk of resistance amongst mosquitoes
How do you treat malaria?
ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy)
What is dangerous with using pyrethroids?
Resistance builds up which can be mitigated by using different insecticides
What does ACT contain?
Artemisinin and a partner drug
What is being done to combat antimalarial drug resistance?
The plan is to eliminate P. falciparum
