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Murderous malaria: history, statistics and distribution

Malaria or “swamp fever” is an infectious disease that is transmitted to humans through the bites of so-called “malaria mosquitoes”. 80-90% of patients who contract tropical malaria die.

Doctors believe that malaria has always been and will be one of the most dangerous diseases of mankind - it led to the decline of large countries, destroyed nations and even "decided" the results of wars.

Malaria "squinted" such famous people as Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Hun King Attila, St. Augustine, Dante Alighieri, Christopher Columbus, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Byron and many others.

It is believed that humans and malaria developed together - archaeologists have found the oldest mosquito fossils with the remains of malaria parasites, which are 30 million years old. Researchers believe that malaria appeared in West and Central Africa.

Today, 2.4 billion people live in areas where you can catch this disease (especially sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and Colombia), and this is about 40% of the world's population.

According to the WHO, as of 2016, the death rate from malaria has reached 445 thousand people, the highest mortality rate in Africa - 91%. The hardest cases of malaria are children and pregnant women. In Africa alone, one child dies every minute from malaria.

Over the past decade, malaria infectious disease has outstripped pneumonia and tuberculosis in the number of claimed lives per year.

Malaria: infection and symptoms

Malaria enters the bloodstream of a person due to the bite of a female mosquito. In addition to insect bites, malaria can be transmitted during pregnancy from an infected mother to a child, through transfusion of infected blood, or by injection with a syringe.

Symptoms of malaria can occur 1-4 weeks after infection.

The course of the disease is accompanied by severe symptoms: fever, chills, headache, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly (increased size of the spleen and liver), sweating, diarrhea, aching joints, fever, fatigue, fatigue, anemia, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Also, malaria infection in people can be accompanied by rashes, urinary disorders, dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels.

Interestingly, malaria is characterized by a cyclic course - the exacerbation of the disease lasts from 6 to 10 hours.

Further exacerbation passes, the body temperature decreases, but there is severe sweating and deep sleep occurs (from 2 to 5 hours). A second attack occurs after 48-72 hours.

This disease is treated only in the hospital under the scrutiny of doctors. Today, malaria parasites have developed resistance to certain antibiotics, so it is becoming increasingly difficult to treat malaria.

In addition, malaria can lead to terrible complications - anemia, heart failure, parasites of the lungs, liver and brain, and so on.

Why malaria is so dangerous: symptoms, prevention and treatment

Malaria: how to protect yourself from a terrible disease

If you plan to visit a country where malaria is common, the only way to avoid getting malaria is through vaccination, which is given two weeks before the trip.

Indoor use mosquito sprays that have a residual effect. It is also good if mosquito nets are installed on the windows and doors in the apartment.

See also: Why diphtheria is so dangerous: symptoms, prevention and treatment

When turned on, air conditioners can also deter insects. During your stay on the street, it is advisable to wear light-colored covered clothing.

Avoid shrubs - these are favorite places for swarming dangerous mosquitoes. Stagnant water places are also very dangerous - here insects breed.

And do not neglect the mosquito nets over the beds - they should be solid, without holes and treated with insecticides (chemicals to protect plants from harmful insects, - " 24 "). And in some areas, mosquito pathogens of malaria have developed resistance to insecticides.

If you notice symptoms of the disease, consult a doctor immediately.

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