malaria

Question 1

what is malaria

Answer 1

-parasitic disease caused by a protist of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted by a mosquito
-5 species
-spread by a female Anopheles mosquito
-the female mosquito is a primary host as well as the vector of the malaria parasite, humans = secondary host

Question 2

what’s a vector

Answer 2

-an organism, usually an arthropod that transmits a pathogen from one host to another

Question 3

what are the effects of malaria (body)

Answer 3

-the parasites move in the bloodstream to the liver where they multiply after 6-14 days
-the parasites enters the blood and multiply within the red blood cells
-red blood cells burst and may cause anaemia
-brain damage can occur and cause a condition known as cerebral malaria

Question 4

effect on the economy

Answer 4

-associated with poverty, but can also cause poverty
-treatment is expensive
-economic burden on the healthcare sector

Question 5

management of malaria

Answer 5

-immediate and effective treatment with a combination of anti-malarial drugs
-quinine is a drug known as artemisinin = successful

Question 6

what is elimination of the vector mosquitoes

Answer 6

-inner walls of houses are sprayed with insecticides (DDT)
-use of mosquito nets

Question 7

what is prophylactic medication

Answer 7

-medication taken to prevent disease