MALARIA
DEFINITION:-
Malaria is a
communicable disease which is caused by genus plasmodium protozoa. The features
of this disease are periodic type of intermittent fever which comes with rigors
and subsides with sweating, splenomegaly and anaemia.
CAUSES AND SPREADS:-
-
Mainly caused by plasmodium vivax and plasmodium
falciparum virus.
-
The disease is transmitted from man to man
mainly by the bite of ‘female anopheline mosquitoes’.
-
The disease may be acquired by infected blood
transfusion.
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Malaria mainly occurs in tropical and sub-
tropical countries where the hot and humid climate is favourable for breeding
of mosquitoes. In the year 1935, it was estimated that in India alone 100
million people used to be affected every year, out of which 1 million used to die.
Due to intensive efforts made by the WHO(world health organization), the
incidence of malaria had declined or reduced remarkably during the years
1950-60, but flared up again since the year 1970.although the problem is not
reduced, malaria is still actively prevalent in several countries including
india.
PATHOLOGY:-
In human beings, malaria is caused by 4 species of
plasmodium. Plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium vivax, plasmodium malariae and
plasmodium ovale. Out of these four, the first two types are mainly present in India
and other tropical and subtropical countries.
Whenever a female anopheline mosquito bites an infected
person, it takes up gametocytes or the sexual form of the parasite from the
blood of the infected person. Inside the stomach of the mosquito, the male and
female gamatocytes unite to form a zygote which is converted into a ookinete. The
ookinete is very motile and is capable of piercing the wall of the mosquito’s
stomach. It is soon converted into an
oocyst bursts to in liberate the sporozites that find their way into the
salivary glands of the mosquito. This sexual cycle of the parasite inside the
body of the mosquito is completed within 3 weeks.
Sporozoites are introduced into the blood of a healthy
person from the bite of an infected mosquito. From blood these sporozoites
quickly reach the liver cells when the first liver cycle or the preerythrocytic cycle is completed
within 6-8 days
SYMPTOMS:-
Malaria is recognized by the clinical triad of intermittent
type of fever, splenomegaly and anaemia.
-
The fever of the intermittent type appears with
a definite time schedule and shoots to 102-104F or higher. The febrile episode
passes through three stages – the cold stage, the hot stage and the stage of
sweating.
-
During the cold stage or the stage of shivering,
the patient gets severe rigors, so much so that he may be grinding his teeth. Headache
and vomiting may be associated.
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In the hot stage, the patient may be delirious,
after this stage patient starts sweating and the temperature settles down to
normal.
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The spleen becomes just palpable after a few
febrile episode but later enlarges further and feels firm and hard in
consistency.
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Anaemia occurs mainly due to hemolysis of the
red cells. Hemolysis is greater in plasmodium falciparum infections.
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Subsequent destruction and removal of the red
cells is caused by enlarged and hyperactive spleen. The bone marrow function is
suppressed.
COMPLICATIONS:-
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CEREBRAL MALARIA – red blood cells loaded with
schizonta get stuck inside the cerebral capillaries and cause obstruction to
the flow of blood. Coma, hyperpyrexia, patient feels drowsy and becomes unconscious.
Convulsions and twitching in muscles.
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Algid malaria.
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Black water fever.
INVESTIGATIONS:-
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Serological test.
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Marked elevation of serum IgM levels.
TREATMENT:-
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Use some antibiotics.
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Control of mosquitoes by spraying insecticides
in houses.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT:-
1.
ACONITE.
2.
APIS.
3.
ARNICA.
4.
ARSENICUM ALBUM.
5.
CAPSICUM.
6.
CHINA.
7.
EUPATORIUM PERFORATUM.
8.
GELSEMIUM.
9.
IPECAC.
10.
NATRUM MUR.
11.
NUX VOMICA.
12.
OPIUM.
13.
RHUS TOXI.
14.
VERATRUM ALBUM.
15.
VERATRUM VIRIDAE.
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