Malaria Locations in Africa

QUESTION:

Where in Africa is malaria mainly found?

ANSWER:

The distribution of malaria is constrained by two main factors: temperature and the presence of suitable mosquito hosts. These mosquitoes also depend on certain climatic conditions for their development, namely warm temperatures and sufficient rainfall to produce stagnant water, required by mosquito larvae. As such, although most of Africa lies within latitudes that would normally produce warm enough temperatures for at least seasonal transmission of malaria, in fact the disease is not found everywhere.

: Spatial distribution of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Africa. From Hay et al., 2009, “A world malaria map: Plasmodium falciparum endemicity in 2007”, PLoS Medicine 6(3)

Winters in the Mediterranean region and most of the Cape are too cold for malaria, and in these areas, control interventions have largely eliminated the risk of summer sporadic transmission. Similarly, at high elevations, temperatures are too low for the development of the parasite and/or the mosquito vector. For this reason, places such as central Zimbabwe, the high plateau of Ethiopia and even large cities like Nairobi are relatively malaria-free. Finally, the Sahara and Kalahari desert regions are too dry – there is insufficient moisture for the survival of the mosquito vectors.

Based on these factors, the hotspots for malaria transmission in Africa lie in lowland areas with moderate to high rainfall. The map above shows the distribution of Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe and deadly form of the disease.

How quickly should patient take medicine for malaria?

QUESTION:

My sister has been suffering from malaria for three months. She consulted with doctor in the first symptom of malaria but doctor gave only fever medicine at that time. Blood test was not done at that time. So my question is: “within how many days or months malaria patient has to immediately take medicine?”

ANSWER:

One of our collaborating medical doctors has assisting in providing this answer:

It depends on the type of malaria….with Plasmodium vivax infection she could have a low burden due to concurrent treatment or recent prophylaxis which is breaking through because of low grade resistance. Alternatively, it could be P. malariae or P. ovale, both of which sometimes cause only mild disease that may or may not progress. P. falciparum shouldn’t act this way; it is usually a much more severe, aggressive infection. Another option is that she might not have malaria at all. She needs qualitative and quantitative smears to confirm the diagnosis, together with a comprehensive travel/exposure history to support any clinical suspicions.

Why are platelets low in malaria infections?

QUESTION:

Why are platelets low in malaria infections? Why is there no internal bleeding in malaria?

ANSWER:

Platelets are low especially with P. falciparum infections, but also potentially with high-burden P. vivax infections. This is probably from sequestration in blood vessels and spleen. Actually, there is life threatening bleeding associated with severe cerebral malaria from this stasis and sequestration in the brain. Similarly, enlargement of the spleen leaves it susceptible to rupture, which would lead to critical internal bleeding.

Pf Malaria Mortality Statistics

QUESTION:

What are the number of deaths in malaria pf case?

ANSWER:

“pf” stands for malaria that is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. It is the most severe form, and responsible for the most number of deaths globally. It is estimated that around 700,000 people died last year from malaria; of these, approximately 90% would have been due to Pf malaria.

Plasmodium Vivax Shows Malaria Infection?

QUESTION:

If there is Plasmodium Vivax present, then is the patient infected with malaria or not?

ANSWER:

Yes! Plasmodium vivax is one of the several different species of malaria that can infect humans and cause disease. The other main species found in humans are Plasmodium falciparum, P. ovale and P. malariae.

Can malaria affect the liver and stomach?

QUESTION:

Can malaria affect the liver and stomach? I had two attacks of P. falciparum few years back. Now I doubt there is some swelling under my right rib bone. Please clear my doubt.

ANSWER:

Malaria can certainly affect many of the organs in the body, including the stomach and liver. This is due to the sequestration (attachment) of red blood cells to the tiny blood vessels in these organs, and is especially common in infections with P. falciparum. Given the large amount of blood that flows through the liver, this is a common organ to be affected by malaria, and can often seen to be swollen during the infection. However, it is unusual for the enlargement to persist after treatment, and so I would recommend you visit your doctor or hospital to check out any residual concerns you might have.

Malaria Fever

QUESTION:

How many days will the fever last?

ANSWER:

There is no set amount of time for the duration of a malaria fever, and in fact it will depends on several factors, namely the type of malaria the patient has, their level of acquired immunity, whether they were taking preventative medicine for malaria (prophylaxis) at the time of infection and how quickly they receive appropriate treatment.

There are, however, known “cycles” to the progression of fever during a malaria infection. Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax and P. ovale, three of the types of malaria that normally infect humans, are known as “tertian” malarias, as they produce fevers that peak every two days. P. falciparum, due to its severity and rapid increase in the human host, can sometimes present with more frequent, or even constant, fever. P. malariae, on the other hand, is considered a “quartan” malaria, as it produces fever in approximately three-day cycles.

Illness from Uganda trip

QUESTION:

I just came back from a visit to Uganda Africa. I was unable to take Malarone as I had bad side effects. Vomiting. I was only exposed once when we walked into a swampy rain forest. This of-course was the only day I did not have repellent. We were taking the kids on a nature walk and the German volunteer got a little lost. I ran as fast as could out of the area. Started to feel tired and weak 7 days later, getting severe headaches and going from hot to cold. 5 kids ended up with Malaria shortly after our walk. (I found this out after my return).

A missionary on the plain said I must likely had malaria and gave me Lumartem. By the time I got home I was having sever diarrhea and real bad body aches, low grade fever. The doctor here took my blood but reported my results would take 7 days. I started taking the Lumartem, & I felt better, the runs slowed down the boy aches lessened. Now I am finished with my 3 day prescription Feel pretty good compared to how I felt b4. Still have stomach cramps and small runs. What now? Should I go have a blood test to see if its gone or just wait and see???

ANSWER:

Considering you were in Uganda, it is not unlikely that you didn’t also pick up some sort of intestinal bug or parasite, which might be responsible for the residual runs and cramps. However, it is certainly important to take a blood test to ensure that you have completely cured the malaria infection; P. falciparum is common in Uganda, and causes a very severe form of malaria. While it can’t come back directly once it has been cured, if treatment is not entirely successful small numbers can remain in your blood stream and then start reproducing again once you have stopped taking medication, resulting in what is called “recrudescence” of the infection.

If possible, try to find out from the doctor that performs the blood test what type of malaria you had/have, as this will also determine whether you need additional medication (called primaquine) to prevent recurrence or relapse of the infection at a later date. Recurrence is due to a dormant phase of the malaria parasite hiding out in your liver; while P. falciparum cannot produce these dormant phases (and therefore can only relapse if the initial blood infection is not completely cured), two other malaria parasites, called P. vivax and P. ovale, can have liver stages, and so you may need to take primaquine if you are found to have been infected with either of these types.

Malaria and Loss of Red Blood Cells

QUESTION:

What is the percentage of red blood cell that is lost at the onset of malaria symptoms?

ANSWER:

This depends entirely on the severity of the malaria infection, and also the type of malaria. Malaria parasites, called Plasmodium, invade red blood cells and use them for rapid, asexual reproduction. After a certain number of multiplications, the parasites burst out from the red blood cell, destroying it. This process leads to the reduction in red blood cells, and causes anaemia in the patient. The most deadly type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, takes just 24 hours to complete its cycles of reproduction. Therefore it can very rapidly produce many more parasites, which spread quickly through the blood, reducing the number of red blood cells very quickly.

Malaria Cases in West Bengal

QUESTION:

What is the number of Malaria patients in West Bengal?

ANSWER:

West Bengal is one of the states considered highly endemic for malaria in India. In 1998, cases in West Bengal comprised approximately 6% of the total number of cases of all malaria in India (corresponding to 129,000 of the total 2.15 million cases reported that year), and approximately 3% of the cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the most acute and deadly form of the disease. However, more recently, there are encouraging signs of decreasing mortality from malaria in West Bengal; in 2007, the number of reported deaths from malaria was 100, down from 203 in 2006 (the total number of cases in 2007 was estimated at 86,132).