Malaria in Malawi

by Michael Kamiza, Lina Wetzel

Definition

Malaria is one of the most famous mosquito-born tropical diseases passed on to humans by the female anopheles mosquito: Anopheles arabiensis. There are four known humanpathogenic species of plasmodia namely Plasmodium falciparum, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. malariae. The most common in Malawi being P. Falciparum and P. Vivax.

Pathogenesis

• saliva with parasite• in persons' blood to liver, maturation, reproduction• invade RBCs, live on glucose and globin• can bind hem• hemolysis • invisible for immune system

Symptoms

flu-like Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, joint-pain, jaundice, hypoglycemia, hemolytic anemia, retinal damage and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs, respiratory distress and encepalopathy

Prevelance

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 0

C o l u m n 1

C o l u m n 1

Treatment

The types of drugs and the length of treatment will vary, depending on:

which type of malaria parasite you have, the severity of your symptoms, your age, whether you're pregnant, Medications

The most common antimalarial drugs used in Malawi include:

Chloroquine (Aralen), Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin), Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Mefloquine

Genetic resistance to malaria

There are genetic disorders that influences RBCs and cause resistance against malaria such as....

sickle-cell anemia

Thalassemia

G6PD deficiency

ovalocytosis

The problem

Malawi provides a perfect climate and geography for anopheles mosquitoes, most cases arising in the rainy season nationwide but in the southern region cases are all year round because of the shire basin, water from two of the 3 lakes drain into it and during the dry season when parts of the river dry up it creates gullies and marshes which are prime mosquito breading grounds. P. falciparum is becoming resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (69% sensitive)

•Poor drainage systems that cause water not to flow easily harbour malaria-spreading mosquitoes

•Deforestation as a result of urbanisation may alter the landscape through soil erosion leading to the formation of gullies and deep/shallow holes that trap water during the rainy season. Such places become mosquito breeding grounds, which exacerbate the malaria transmission problems during rainy season.

•Irresponsible disposal of rubbish, empty cans and plastic bags that collect water during rainy season, all of which provide ideal locations for breeding mosquitoes.

Solutions

The Ministry of Health and Population has adopted some strategies for controlling malaria: Presumptive chemotherapy and insecticide treated bed nets. A national policy is in place to provide intermittent preventative therapy to all pregnant women at the 1st visit after the first trimester and at the beginning of the 3rd trimester (between 28-34 weeks).

Sources

http://www.medcol.mw/commhealth/publications/epi%20book/Malaria%20chapter%203.pdf (2.11.14)

http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v107/n4/full/hdy201116a.html

(2.11.14)