Conditions And Diseases | The Cure and Prevention of Diseases

How To Deal Wth Malaria

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Malaria is an infection related disease found in tropical regions of Asia, America and Africa. Once the parasites enter the body, they start breeding inside the body. When their count reaches some threshold amount, the body’s immune system submits to the parasites. This results in fever and headache. There are many types of parasites that can affect the body but Plasmodium falciparum is the worst of those. The disease spreads by mosquitos’ and especially female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito is usually found in areas where water gets deposited and is not removed for days. Besides mosquito, other sources for the spread of malaria include blood transfusions and transplants. Malaria is usually diagnosed by blood tests.

Even though fever is a symptom of malaria but every fever is not a symptom of malaria. Malaria is usually treated by the use of quinine and artesunate. In worst cases, hospitalization may be required. Prevention of malaria includes preventing any water from depositing. The water may get deposited in tyres and coolers. You can also use mosquito repellent, sprays and bed nets. It should be noted that you should not try to use any medicine on your own in case of fever. You should always consult the doctor in case of fever. The doctor on inspecting the patient will advise some blood or urinal tests which can confirm the presence of malaria.

These tests can be from any trusted laboratory. You can expect to get the reports in four to five hours. The report will clearly state whether the patient is suffering for malaria or not. Once confirmed, you should immediately start the medicine course for malaria as advised by your doctor. You need to see your doctor after every four days to get the feedback of treatment. Thus one should take proper preventive measures in order to avoid getting into the long treatment of malaria.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Preventive Measures

Electronic Cigarettes Are Safer than Traditional Cigarettes

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Many people today have started to turn to electronic cigarettes. It is said that these are a lot better for you than traditional cigarettes, and have a much lower chance of causing health problems like lung cancer. Since these cigarettes still contain tobacco, and you still inhale it, there are the possibilities of some health issues still. Overall, though, it has been shown that these electronic cigarettes are much less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

Not only are they better for the smoker — though, realistically no tobacco is better than some — they are also better for the people around the person that smokes. With many of these cigarettes, there is actually no smoke that comes out of them. Instead, the cigarette uses a tobacco and water vapor combination. Because of this, there is no second-hand smoke to worry about. This makes it much healthier for everyone involved. In fact, it has been shown that these cigarettes don’t have the normal problematic elements, such as tar and other deadly chemicals that are put into normal cigarettes. Smokers can also choose cartridges with more or less nicotine, which can help smokers choose to inhale less with each cartridge.

Since there is no actual smoke that is coming out of electronic cigarettes, you may even find that they are acceptable for use in places that have banned smoking. For example, you may be able to smoke one of these cigarettes in a bar while having your drink. Many areas today do not allow smoking in bars, but this is one way that you may still be able to smoke. Because there is no second-hand smoke that comes from these, it is a possibility.

The fact that these cigarettes are much healthier than a traditional cigarette does not mean that they are healthy for you. They still contain tobacco. Realistically though, they are a much better alternative to regular cigarette smoking.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health Tagged With: Cigarette, Electronic cigarette, Health, Tobacco

Malaria Symptoms

Even if an individual has taken anti-malarial medications an individual can still contract Malaria. Typically it takes 9 to 14 days for an infection to occur. Symptoms of malaria infection might include fever, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, headache and nausea.

Depending upon which type of Plasmodium an individual was infected with the symptoms and their severity might vary. If an individual has been infected by Plasmodium falciparum they will see symptoms within seven to fourteen days, however Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale generally show signs and symptoms eight to fourteen days later however in a human host it has been possible for for malaria to survive for months in a human host. Plasmodium malariea take anywhere between seven and thirty days to show symptoms.

Of course the onset of symptoms vary amongst all individuals and a time frame should not be utilize when attempting to diagnose the infection. Because malaria symptoms are not always drastic they are often times dismissed as something not important.

If infection is not immediately taken care of individuals could notice a rapid decrease in their health as the parasites reproduce quickly within the blood stream.

Individuals will sometimes notice that symptoms come and go at different time increments, as if in cycles. The cyclic symptoms come from the parasites lifestyle. Over time the cells reproduce and are released into the blood stream and liver and it could potentially infect the kidneys and the brain causing confusion and even coma.

Symptoms that might be detected with infection of malaria can include slight jaundice, cough, rigors, headaches, orthostatic hypotension, sweating, fever, loss of appetite, myalgia (limbs and back), enlarged liver and spleen, fatigue, diarrhea and pain in the abdomen and vomiting.

A fever discovered during the first week of travel whilst in an area at risk for malaria is generally not the infection, though if you become ill during travel you should immediately seek medical treatment.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health Tagged With: Malaria Infection, Malaria Symptoms

What Causes Malaria?

Malaria is contracted when an individual is bitten by a malaria infected parasite. There are many types of malaria parasites all of which belong to the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium are small organisms only visible via microscope, there are over 100 species of these organisms and they can bite and infect a variety of species in the animal kingdom including reptiles, birds and a multitude of mammals.

There are only four species of Plasmodium in nature capable of infecting humans. The four species include Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodiam malariae, and Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria is transmitted via the Anopheles mosquito, which enables the transmission of a Plasmodium parasite to a human via a bite. No other mosquitoes have been discovered to be able to transmit Malaria. Anopheles mosquitoes (also called the “malaria mosquito”) Has to be present and also must come in contact with humans. The mosquitoes act as the host for the Plasmodium parasites. The mosquito acts as the invertebrate host. A human must be available and present with an ability to come in contact with the Anopheles mosquito. When in contact with humans plasmodium parasites have what the need to complete the other half of their cycle of life, the vertebrate host.

Other, less common methods of transmission can occur when an individual comes in contact with infected blood. This can happen via an organ transplant, a blood transfusion, or from mother to child through birth.

In this instance Malaria is still a Plasmodium parasite, only it has spread in a different manner.

Individuals who have been infected with Malaria will experience a wide range of symptoms which can be felt in a mild capacity, a mediocre to more severe capacity and sometimes even death. Malaria disease can be classified in individuals as either not at all complicated or otherwise, complicated. The disease can be cured if it is diagnosed and treated quickly and correctly.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health Tagged With: Anopheles mosquito, Malaria, Malaria parasites

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease that occurs in the blood and is transmitted amongst individuals via mosquitoes which have become infected with the malaria parasite. Malaria is caused by one out of four different species of single celled organisms called Plasmodium. Plasmodium infects individuals by way of the female Anopheles mosquito which relies on human blood for life.

An individual contracts Malaria after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The mosquito bite injects immature forms of the malaria parasite directly into an individual’s bloodstream where the parasite travels throughout targeting the liver where they stay until they reach the next developmental milestone. Within the next six to nine days the parasites travel from the liver and go back into the bloodstream where red blood cells are invaded. The malaria parasites complete their growth cycle and begin to multiply rapidly. Increasing until the red blood cells burst the parasite then infiltrates the rest of an individuals body attacks other red blood cells and the infection grows and spreads.

Malaria is common all over the world. In the United States individuals are typically put at risk when they travel outside of our country and into tropical or subtropical locales where Malaria has been an issue. There is no vaccination available against Malaria. The only way to prevent the disease whilst traveling is to use anti-mosquito measures and consuming drugs designed for prevention.

People who travel to areas of Central and South America, the Indian subcontinent, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle Eased, Southeast Asia, and Oceania are placing themselves at a greater risk for receipt of the disease. Weather conditions and the number of mosquitoes at a particular locale determine the traveler’s risk.

Malaria parasites are capable of being transmitted via a blood transfusion, or the sharing of needles with an infected individual.

Malaria can be cured if detected and treated quickly enough.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health Tagged With: Malaria, Malaria parasites, Sub-Saharan Africa

The Prevention of Malaria During Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant are among the group of individuals most at risk for Malaria as pregnancy reduces a woman’s immunity leaving her more prone to contracting the illness causing incredibly dangerous consequences for both mother and child. In Africa an average of 24 million pregnancies are threatened yearly and it has been determined that 15% of maternal anemia and 35% of preventable low birth weight is caused by women infected with Malaria.

Babies affected during pregnancy with malaria are often born with severe anemia and low birth weights. Typically babies are born prematurely and often have infant illnesses and even death. Low birth weight causes issues in child development.

There are methods of prevention that are cost effective. One example is PIT- Preventative intermittent treatment. This treatment involves full doses of a working anti-malarial drug at preset intervals during an individual’s pregnancy. Currently only two countries: Kenya and Malawi have implemented PIT as a required preventative measure.

PIT is typically administered beginning in the second trimester and moving forward throughout the pregnancy. It should be administered at intervals of no less than a month apart.

Studies conducted in Malawi and Kenya have indicated that women treated utilizing PIT will run a less chance of having anemia and low birth weight babies.

Another effective method is the use of bed-nets which have been pretreated with insecticides.

Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia have lowered their taxes on bed-nets in an effort to make them widely affordable. Though behind, these countries are working to make PIT required and available to citizens.

Countries in Africa are working to implement governmental policies regarding anti-malaria drugs and protocols for the prevention of Malaria during pregnancy. Mothers who contract Malaria during pregnancy who might otherwise be greater immune are at a huge risk for losing not only their own lives but the lives of their children.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Malaria During Pregnancy, Prevention of Malaria

Malaria Resistance made possible through use of Zinc and Vitamin A

Daily Malaria is responsible currently for more deaths than AIDS, each year more than one million children lose their lives. Unfortunately, because the disease is not prevalent in more developed countries the disease does not get the attention it needs.

Malaria is caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium which enter an individual’s bloodstream via a mosquito bite. The most frequent cause of infection and the one which results in the worst and most severe strain of malaria is Plasmodium falciparum.

As parasites evolve they are becoming more and more resistant to specific drugs.

Recently a study has been conducted which brings to light that the majority of individuals and children who live in areas with high malaria prevalence have poor nutrition in general. It is speculated that a lack of micronutrients such as Vitamin A and Zinc in the diets of those individuals reduce the probability for a healthy immune system leaving individuals vulnerable to becoming ill from Malaria.

In the human body Zinc is required for a multitude of biological processes among which include protein synthesis (which is a key player in immunity.) Vitamin A is also necessary for maintaining a healthy and strong immune system. The two (Zinc and Vitamin A) are often deemed symbiotic.

In an attempt to determine whether or not Zinc and Vitamin A administered in combination were effective for the reduction of malaria caused illness the authors of the study planned a double-blind study with a placebo in Burkina Faso, located in western Africa. The study was conducted on 150 young children ranging between 6 and 72 months old. Half were given Vitamin A plus Zinc for six days for six months and the other half were simply administered a placebo.

The results were measured post study. It was determined that the number of occurrences of anemia, fever, and presence of the parasites were more prevalent in those given the placebo.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Diagnosing, Preventive Measures Tagged With: Malaria Resistance, Zinc and Vitamin A

How to Prevent Malaria

In the tropics Malaria is a death causing epedemic. Each year hundreds of thousands of children and adults lose their life to this illness. The majority of these deaths occur in low income villages located in the remote areas of Asia, South America and Africa.

Malaria is contracted following a bite from a female anopheles mosquito which has become infected with the malaria parasite. The parasite infiltrates the blood of the victim as the mosquito sucks his or her blood.

Mosquitos are impossible to completely eradicate, so there is no way to completely control the spread of malaria, in fact individuals must simply take precautions in an attempt to prevent cotnraction.

When visiting a foreign country it is smart to make attempts to protect yourself from the deadly disease.

Methods for protecting yourself from Malaria include;

1. Speak with a doctor regarding obtaining a prescription for anti-malarial drugs. This should be one of the initial stages of travel preparation. Most doctors tend to prescribe atavaquone with proguanil or Mefloquine. These drugs are usually take a week or two prior to travel.

2. Make sure and travel with protective clothing: hats, boots, and clothes which cover the majority of the body it is recommended to use light colored clothing.

3. Travel with mosquito repellents containing DEET. A treated mosquito net is incredibly important. Nets soaked in DEET work to create a barrier in one’s sleep. Mosquitos are most prone to biting at night.

4. Close windows and doors when sleeping if possible.

5. Register your presence in a foreign country with the consulate or embassy (this is always important) and local embassy’s can let you know about issues with diesase paterns and precautions you should take.

Always talk to your doctor for the best advice for travel and avoiding malaria.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Preventive Measures Tagged With: DEET, mosquito repellents, Prevent Malaria

What’s Malaria?

Malaria is an infection commonly contracted in areas where it is hot and tropical, however on very rare occasions in mild climates. Malaria is caused by one of four single-cell parasites contained within the Plasmodium species.

Mosquitoes carry the parasite from one place to another and infect humans, reptiles and mammals alike. When bitten by a mosquito infected with the parasite the individual then becomes a host. Only in instances of pregnant mother to child is the disease spread person to person, though it can be contracted through a blood transfusion, needle sharing, or organ donation.

Each year between 300-500 million individuals become infected with malaria. The majority of the reported instances happen in sub-Saharan Africa. In these locations almost 2 million individuals lose their lives each year. In the United States and other developed countries Malaria is actually rare with less than 1500 instances being reported each year over the past decade. Many of these instances occurred in individuals traveling outside of the United States, military personnel, and individuals who were infected pre-immigration.

Early detectable symptoms in children could potentially be irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms usually occur in conjunction with a fever, chills, and heavy breathing. The fever could increase gradually over a one to two day period or may rise instantly to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Intense sweating could occur as the child’s temperature decreases to a normal level.

Over the next two to three days the same symptoms may occur in waves or repeat intervals depending upon the severity of the infection and which parasitic species infected the individual in question.

Doctors will typically treat individuals with any symptoms of Malaria without waiting for test results as a simple method of prevention. The infection is deadly and dangerous and many feel it is better safe than sorry.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Health Tagged With: Malaria, Plasmodium, Sub-Saharan Africa

Diagnosing malaria

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There are four principal methods of diagnosing malaria. These are symptomatic, microscopy, antigen test and molecular methods.

Symptomatic diagnosis is the most common, and people in poorer countries often use symptoms alone to diagnose malaria. In other areas, too, symptomatic diagnosis is often the initial one, followed by one of the other methods. However, it should be noted that many other diseases present symptoms very similar to malaria, and diagnosis by symptoms alone can be misleading and even harmful. Treating for malaria where other treatment is called for leaves the actual disease uncured and the patient in critical condition. It is therefore imperative to follow up symptomatic diagnosis with one of the other more accurate methods.

Onset of long periodic fevers, chills and bodily pain are often taken together to be symptoms of malaria. However, this diagnosis is often wrong; so is parasitemia, which means the concentration of parasites in the blood; both can be caused by other sorts of infections. It has been shown that retinopathy, the study of changes occurring in the retina of the eye, can give good indication of malaria, because the retinas change color and other aspects as a result of particular diseases.

Microscopic examination of blood, ever since the singular discovery of Laveran, the French scientist who first identified the plasmodium parasite, is the most reliable method of diagnosing malaria. In this, a specimen of blood is observed under the microscope for symptoms of the parasite; although, other bodily fluids like saliva or urine can also be used as less invasive methods.

In areas where microscopic exam is not feasible, antigen tests have been devised to quickly provide a diagnosis. These are commercially available tests that can be used on the field to detect the presence of malarial parasites; although not the load of parasites, but merely their presence, can be detected.

Lastly is the developmental stage molecular study which uses methods like PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to identify malaria. These are accurate, but expensive.

Filed Under: Conditions and Diseases, Diagnosing Tagged With: Conditions and Diseases