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Momodou
Denmark
11787 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Sep 2007 : 18:45:06
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HEALTH AND NUTRITION BANTABA
Raising Awareness On Malaria
By Yaya Bayo
The Scourge of Malaria has become an outstanding public health concern at this time of the year around the continent, particularly sub-Saharan Africa. Research suggests that about 200 million people get malaria in tropical countries every year, and about 2 million die of it.
A single-cell organism called plasmodium causes this deadly epidemic. Interestingly enough, the female of the Anopheles Mosquito spreads it. The mode of transmission of the single-cell organism should be known by all and sundry with a view to putting contingent measures in place to avert its transmission from an infected person to a non-infected one.
The plasmodium lives in the salivary glands of an infected female Anopheles Mosquito. The mosquito feeds on human blood. When it bites in order to take a meal of blood, the saliva enters the blood taking with it the parasites. The blood carries them to the liver where they enter the cells, feed and multiply rapidly. Later the parasites invade the bloodstream and enter the red blood cells. Inside the red blood cells, the plasmodium grows again and reproduces. The new parasites then break out, destroying the red cells and producing poisonous substances. This causes very severe fever with high temperature and sweating. Eventually the fever passes but returns again and again as long as the parasites remain in the body. Next time the infected person is bitten by a mosquito, some of the parasites are taken into the mosquito's stomach. Here they continue to multiply. They break through the stomach wall and pass in the bloodstream to the salivary glands. They wait here until they are passed on to the next healthy person the mosquito bites.
Symptomatically, the typical attack of malaria has three stages. It begins with a feeling of cold, headache and weakness. There is shivering for 15 minutes to one hour. Very serious fever, often 40°c or more follows this. The person is weak and sometimes not in his right mind. The fever may last several hours or days. Then the person begins to sweat as his temperature comes down. People who have malaria often and over a long period of time may develop an enlarged spleen and anemia. Anyone who suspects he/she has malaria or suffers from repeated fevers should report to a health centre.
Malaria can be controlled, if everyone co-operates. All the control measures should be practiced at the same time.
One method is the destruction of the mosquito. The adults can be killed by spraying surfaces on which they may settle with benzence hexachloride (BHC) or dieldrin. Aerosol spray may be used to kill them in the houses. However, it is best to use those, which do not contain chloropfluoro carbons (CFC's).
Moreover, the larvae and pupae (young) can be destroyed by spraying on the surface of pools and marshes where mosquitoes breed. The oil lowers the surface tension of the water, causing the larvae and pupae to sink and drown. However, the recent biolarvicide exercise undertaken by the officials of the Department of State for Health in the gutters and other drainage outlets of Banjul is a worthwhile venture in the crusade against the malaria scourge in the country. This is a laudable initiative, which is embraced by all, especially the residence of Banjul. The Department of State for Health also promised to extend similar ventures to other parts of the country where the population of mosquitoes is quite noticeable.
Notwithstanding, this should be done before rather than after the "Malaria Season" begins in earnest in the country.
Additionally, fish such as topminnow can be introduced into the water to feed on the larvae and pupae. The breeding grounds too can be drained or completely filled with sand.
Another highly placed traditional way of preventing mosquito bites is by sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets (ITNs) and also covering windows with a fine-mesh screen to keep them out. It is gratifying to note at this point that, the Association of Youths Against Malaria (TAYAM), UNICEF. Department of State for Health's National Malaria Control Programme component and other partners recently embarked on bed net dipping campaign in Western Health Region to curb the menace of malaria. This campaign which is conducted free of charge is aimed at preventing our children, pregnant women and the general populace at large from the scourge of malaria.
In addition, wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers in the evening in mosquito infested areas will also help prevent bites on arms and legs. Smearing repellant creams on exposed skin may also prevent bites. More importantly, taking regular weekly doses of preventive (prophylaxis) drugs will tremendously help in the prevention process.
Finally, malaria is treated with anti-malarial drugs, but unfortunately, the parasite seems to have developed resistance to some of these drugs. Therefore, a trained medical worker's advice should be sought before taken these drugs.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 114/2007, 28 - 30 September, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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tapalapa
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2007 : 23:39:11
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Thanks for this Momodou, u have certainly raised my awareness.
T pa |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2007 : 23:55:21
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Sleeping under a treated net is also important. The more people issued with nets, the more lives will be saved.
M is it true that the mossis at the coast are not as dangerous as the ones inland? If this is true, why is that the case?
I go to Tendaba and Mossis are everywhere. The best thing is wearing long sleeves and legs on clothes. Socks and shoes. No flip flops!
Eat garlic? or marmite ALOT.
Dont use perfume or sweet smelling soaps.
Any other ideas???? |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 00:39:28
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All mosquitos carrying malaria are equally dangerous wherever they are. Some evidence suggests that you get fewer mosquitos by the coast because of air movement and las stagnant water - in land mosquitos thrive on stagnant water whcih is why there is a greater danger (not the mosquitos themselves beign more damgerous but the numbers of possible infected ones...)
Best protection?? don't get bitten! Deet works best for me!
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 08:02:57
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HATE DDT
Hate it when they spray the rooms in Tendaba. Hate it when they spray the plane.
What are those chemicals doing to our bodies?! 
We have mosis in UK, but they dont carry Malaria. (not yet, there is a serious worry if global warming increases)
I presumed there must be different types, some that carry it and some that dont. Can someone enlighten me please? |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 10:59:44
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Mosquitos infected with the malaria parasite carry malaria. In sub saharan africa (and other areas) this could be most/many of them. It is most likely that you Bev, and I have - on many occassions been bitten by malaria carrying mosis but the drugs in our bodies fight it. We've probably been bitten (I believe it's only the females who bite!!) by non malaria ones too. They infect each other and are born infected. They mutate and become immune to certain chemicals and within time can break through protection which is why anti malaria drugs keep changing (they eventually lose their protection). But strains of malaria differ in different parts of the world. So different drugs are more effective in different areas.
We don't have it in Europe because the mosquitos have not yet managed to get past the Sahara. Planes are sprayed incase any one tries!!
As to Deet, I agree - horrid, nasty (but effective) stuff. But, as my brother (a hot shot doctor) says to me: there have been no recorded deaths from deet but quite literally, millions, from malaria! |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 30 Sep 2007 : 11:56:58
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Yes I do get that about the DDT being better than the alternative.
We do have mossis in Uk. I have been bitten this year. My neighbour has a water feature, I suspect they are coming from there.
Ours arent malaria carriers YET. If europe warms up a few degrees they might become that way, or at least that is my limited understanding.
Lily, is your hot shot doctor brother hot? and if so is he married? LOL  |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2007 : 15:10:41
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Malaria existed in UK for many years before declining in the nineteenth century.
After the First World War, when soldiers returning from Greece and India were convalescing in Kent, the local mosquitoes picked up malaria. The resulting epidemic included 500 cases of malaria among Kent citizens who had never left the country.
sab. |
The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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Lily
United Kingdom
422 Posts |
Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 00:03:57
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You are so right Sab - and then the malaria carrying mosquito was irradicated..... which is still within the power of western governments .... but it is expensive .... and why bother if it no longer bothers us??
(Yes, I am being facetious !!)
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