MALARIA

• Malaria


  Other Term: Ague and Marsh Fever
• Etiologic Agents


  • Plasmodium falciparum (most common)
  • Plasmodium vivax
  • Plasmodium malariae
  • Plasmodium ovale
• Incubation Period


  • P. falciparum (5 to 7 days)
  • P. vivax (6 to 8 days)
  • P. ovale (8 to 9 days)
  • P. malariae (12 to 16 days)
• Mode of Transmission


  • Transmitted mechanically through bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito
  • Blood transfusion
  • Transplacental transmission
• Clinical Manifestation


  • Paxoysms with shaking chills
  • Rapid rising fever with severe headache
  • Profuse sweating
  • Myalgia
  • Splenomegaly
  • Hepatomegaly
• Chemoprophylaxis


  Chloroquine taken at weekly intervals, starting from 1-2 weeks before entering endemic areas
• Preventive and Vector Control Measures


  • Insecticide-treatment of mosquito nets
  • House Spraying
  • On-stream seeding
  • On-stream clearing
  • Wearing of clothes that covers arms and legs in the evening
  • Avoiding outdoor night activities (9PM to 3AM)
  • Planting of Neem tree
  • Zooprophylaxis