FAQ ON MALARIA - Nurse Abdullahi

 WORLD MALARIA DAY 2021.

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. The parasite is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. People who have malaria usually feel very sick, with a high fever and shaking chills. Each year, approximately 210 million people are infected with malaria, and about 440,000 people die from the disease. Most of the people who die from the disease are young children in Africa, (WHO 2019).

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5805803503573544" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> However, you can only contract malaria when a female anopheles mosquito bites an infected person soak blood contain parasites, bite and transmit the parasites upon you. Therefore, the severe and risk range by race, age, sex, and climate factor; malaria claim lives of people annually and globally. Malaria is caused by parasites called plasmodium species among which includes: _Plasmodium falciparum _Plasmodium vivax _Plasmodium malaria _Plasmodium ovale _Plasmodium knowlesi WHO'S AT RISK? Some populations, groups are at considerably higher risk of contracting malaria, and developing severe disease, than others. These include infants, children under 5 years of age most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2018, they accounted for 67% (272000) of malaria death globally, pregnant women and patients with HIV/AIDS, migrants, mobile populations, and travelers. NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF MALARIA There are several negative impacts of malaria which includes: _Financial constraints _School/workplace absenteeism _Low productivity _Psychological burden _Increase infant/maternal morbidity and mortality rates etc. PREVENTIONS _Vector control: WHO recommends effective malaria vector control. Two forms of vector control – insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spray. _Insecticide-treated mosquito nets Sleeping under an insecticide-treated net (ITN). _Indoor spraying with residual: It involves spraying inside housing structures or room with an insecticide. _Antimalarial drugs: For pregnant women living in moderate-to-high transmission areas, WHO recommends intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, (Fansidar) at each scheduled antenatal visit after the first trimester (1st 3months). Similarly, for infants 3 doses to be delivered with routine immunization. _Surveillance entails: tracking of the disease and programmatic responses and taking action based on the data received. Currently, many countries with a high burden of malaria have weak surveillance systems like Nigeria. _Environmental sanitation: it involves the removal of grasses, stagnant water, or and use of

herbicide. _Adequate diet high in protein to boost immunity. _Early detection and prompt treatment of co_infection. _Awareness campaign on causes, signs, and symptoms, and preventive measures. _Since 2012, WHO has recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) as an additional malaria prevention strategy. Together we can beat malaria. Thank you. Nurse Abdullahi Musa. Gmail:abdurrahmanmct08@gmail