Malaria by Taylor

tkhainley — 2016-02-18 18:14:00 UTC

Pathology

tkhainley — 2016-02-18 18:20:45 UTC

Symptoms: chills, fever, anemia, splenomegaly (enlargement of spleen), fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and mental confusion
Symptoms begin to show 10-28 days after infection and the intensity can vary depending upon age.

How Does it Spread?

tkhainley — 2016-02-18 18:23:48 UTC

An infected female mosquito bites a human and transfers immature forms of the parasite into the bloodstream. They are then carried from the blood to the liver, where they mature. Once grown, they invade red blood cells and destroy blood cells in the process.
Malaria is not contagious; one must be bitten in order to become infected with the disease.

Details

tkhainley — 2016-02-18 18:28:11 UTC

Scientific Name: Plasmodium falciparum

Causative agent: protozoan parasite; female anopheles mosquito

Characteristics of protozoan parasite: eukaryotic organisms; unicellar and microscopic (less than 50 micrometers); typically live in moist environments; asexual reproduction; consume only organic materials
Characteristics of anopheles mosquito: body is dark brown/ black in color; has three sections: head, thorax, and abdomen; round, comma-like shaped body; can lay up to 200 eggs; life cycle includes: egg, larva, pupa, and imago; can live up to two weeks; primarily consume blood

Diagnosis, Treatment and Cures

tkhainley — 2016-02-18 18:30:24 UTC

The best way to diagnose Malaria is through a laboratory test; technicians are able to differentiate between four species of parasite in the blood.
Treatment includes using the drug Quinine, which interferes with growth and reproduction of parasites. One can also use either chloroquine or a combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine, mefloquine, primaquine, and artemisinin. This combination of drugs works together to kill the parasites. These drugs can be the cure to the disease within two weeks if used properly.
Additionally, there was a new vaccine approved, RTS.S, which helped to prevent malarial infection in infants and young kids.
There were not any specific advance saving techniques besides the use of vaccines.
With the right combination of drugs, the disease is curable; however, if not treated, the disease can be life-threatening.

History of Malaria

tkhainley — 2016-02-18 18:36:23 UTC

Symptoms of the disease were described in ancient Chinese medical writing from 2700 BC. The actual malaria parasite was discovered in 1886 by Camillo Golgi, who was an Italian neurophysiologist. Malaria was considered to be eliminated from the U.S. in 1951 after applying medicine to limit the number of outbreaks.
Though not confirmed, many believe that Malaria originated in Africa due to tropical conditions. Currently, the most severe cases occur in tropical and subtropical areas. Most outbreaks occur in areas like sub-saharan Africa, the Middle East, South America, and parts of Southeastern Asia.

tkhainley — 2016-02-19 03:48:24 UTC

tkhainley — 2016-02-19 03:49:54 UTC

tkhainley — 2016-02-22 04:12:55 UTC

Resources

tkhainley — 2016-02-22 04:14:24 UTC

"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. .
Yaeger, Robert G. "Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development." NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1996. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. .
"Anopheles Mosquitoes." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 21 Oct. 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2016. .
"Malaria." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. .
"The History of Malaria, an Ancient Disease." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2016. .

Origin of Malaria

tkhainley — 2016-02-22 04:16:02 UTC

Experts believe the disease originated in Africa.

Video: The Need for a Vaccine

tkhainley — 2016-02-22 04:19:44 UTC

(hit picture, then view original)