Malaria is a life-threatening disease that is caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

In the past decade, measures have been taken to control the spread of the disease, but malaria still remains a major health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were approximately 229 million cases of malaria globally in 2019, and 409,000 people died from the disease.

History of Malaria

Malaria is not a new disease. The first recorded case of malaria was in 2700 BC when the Chinese medical book, “Nei Ching,” described a disease with symptoms similar to malaria.

The Greeks named the disease “malaria,” which means “bad air,” as they believed that the disease was caused by breathing in bad air from swamps and marshes. It was not until the late 1800s when scientists discovered that mosquitoes transmit the disease.

Malaria Transmission

Malaria is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person who has malaria and pick up the parasites in their blood.

The parasites then multiply inside the mosquito and are transmitted to another person when the mosquito bites them. Malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants, or sharing of needles with an infected person.

Symptoms of Malaria

The symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. These symptoms usually appear within 10 to 15 days after the mosquito bite.

If left untreated, malaria can lead to severe complications such as anemia, kidney failure, and coma. Children under the age of 5 and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria.

Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment

Malaria can be diagnosed through a blood test. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the disease, the type of parasite causing the infection, and the patient’s age and overall health.

The WHO recommends artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Severe cases of malaria require hospitalization and intravenous (IV) medication.

Malaria Prevention

The best way to prevent malaria is to avoid mosquito bites. This can be achieved by sleeping under mosquito nets, using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying in air-conditioned or screened areas.

Travelers to areas with high incidence of malaria should take antimalarial medication prescribed by a doctor.

Malaria Elimination Attempts

The WHO has set the goal of eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in reducing the number of cases and deaths caused by malaria.

According to the WHO, between 2010 and 2019, the number of malaria cases declined by 27% globally, and the number of deaths decreased by 60% among children under 5 years old. However, despite these efforts, malaria continues to be a major public health problem in many parts of the world.

Challenges in Malaria Elimination

There are several challenges in eliminating malaria. One of the biggest challenges is the emergence of drug-resistant parasites.

Resistance to antimalarial medication has been reported in several countries, which makes the treatment of the disease more difficult. Another challenge is the development of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have been developing resistance to the insecticides used to kill them, making it harder to control the spread of the disease.

Conclusion

Malaria is a deadly disease that continues to be a major public health problem worldwide.

While progress has been made in reducing the number of cases and deaths caused by malaria in the past decade, eliminating the disease remains a formidable challenge. A coordinated effort involving governments, international organizations, and communities is necessary to achieve the goal of malaria elimination.