MALARIA
DEFINITION:-
Malaria is a communicable disease which is caused by genus plasmodium protozoa. The features of this disease are periodic type of intermittent fever which comes with rigors and subsides with sweating, splenomegaly and anaemia.
CAUSES AND SPREADS:-
- Mainly caused by plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum virus.
- The disease is transmitted from man to man mainly by the bite of ‘female anopheline mosquitoes’.
- The disease may be acquired by infected blood transfusion.
- Malaria mainly occurs in tropical and sub- tropical countries where the hot and humid climate is favourable for breeding of mosquitoes. In the year 1935, it was estimated that in India alone 100 million people used to be affected every year, out of which 1 million used to die. Due to intensive efforts made by the WHO(world health organization), the incidence of malaria had declined or reduced remarkably during the years 1950-60, but flared up again since the year 1970.although the problem is not reduced, malaria is still actively prevalent in several countries including india.
PATHOLOGY:-
In human beings, malaria is caused by 4 species of plasmodium. Plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium vivax, plasmodium malariae and plasmodium ovale. Out of these four, the first two types are mainly present in India and other tropical and subtropical countries.
Whenever a female anopheline mosquito bites an infected person, it takes up gametocytes or the sexual form of the parasite from the blood of the infected person. Inside the stomach of the mosquito, the male and female gamatocytes unite to form a zygote which is converted into a ookinete. The ookinete is very motile and is capable of piercing the wall of the mosquito’s stomach. It is soon converted into an oocyst bursts to in liberate the sporozites that find their way into the salivary glands of the mosquito. This sexual cycle of the parasite inside the body of the mosquito is completed within 3 weeks.
Sporozoites are introduced into the blood of a healthy person from the bite of an infected mosquito. From blood these sporozoites quickly reach the liver cells when the first liver cycle or the preerythrocytic cycle is completed within 6-8 days
SYMPTOMS:-
Malaria is recognized by the clinical triad of intermittent type of fever, splenomegaly and anaemia.
- The fever of the intermittent type appears with a definite time schedule and shoots to 102-104F or higher. The febrile episode passes through three stages – the cold stage, the hot stage and the stage of sweating.
- During the cold stage or the stage of shivering, the patient gets severe rigors, so much so that he may be grinding his teeth. Headache and vomiting may be associated.
- In the hot stage, the patient may be delirious, after this stage patient starts sweating and the temperature settles down to normal.
- The spleen becomes just palpable after a few febrile episode but later enlarges further and feels firm and hard in consistency.
- Anaemia occurs mainly due to hemolysis of the red cells. Hemolysis is greater in plasmodium falciparum infections.
- Subsequent destruction and removal of the red cells is caused by enlarged and hyperactive spleen. The bone marrow function is suppressed.
COMPLICATIONS:-
- CEREBRAL MALARIA – red blood cells loaded with schizonta get stuck inside the cerebral capillaries and cause obstruction to the flow of blood. Coma, hyperpyrexia, patient feels drowsy and becomes unconscious. Convulsions and twitching in muscles.
- Algid malaria.
- Black water fever.
INVESTIGATIONS:-
- Serological test.
- Marked elevation of serum IgM levels.
TREATMENT:-
- Use some antibiotics.
- Control of mosquitoes by spraying insecticides in houses.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT:-
1. ACONITE.
2. APIS.
3. ARNICA.
4. ARSENICUM ALBUM.
5. CAPSICUM.
6. CHINA.
7. EUPATORIUM PERFORATUM.
8. GELSEMIUM.
9. IPECAC.
10. NATRUM MUR.
11. NUX VOMICA.
12. OPIUM.
13. RHUS TOXI.
14. VERATRUM ALBUM.
15. VERATRUM VIRIDAE.
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