Malaria

Malaria (Italian: "bad air"; formerly called ague or marsh fever in English) is an infectious disease which in humans causes about 350-500 million infections and approximately 1.3 million deaths annually, mainly in the tropics. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 85% of these fatalities.{{mn|OnePointThree|1}}

Treatment and prevention

If diagnosed early, malaria can be treated, but prevention is always much better.

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For prevention, emphasis should be laid on

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1. exposition prophylaxis (use of bednets and screening at night and use of repellents such as DEET and long-sleeved clothing)

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2. chemo-prophylaxis using certain antimalarial drugs (especially for non-immune travellers)

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The choice of drug for prevention and/or treatment does largely depend on the geographic area where infection is likely to occur. Travellers should consult a specialised physician for advice before taking prophylactic treatment.

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Chloroquine was the antimalarial drug of choice for many years in most parts of the world. However, resistance of Plasmodium falciparum against Chloroquine has spread recently from Asia to Africa making the drug ineffective against the most dangerous Plasmodium strain in many affected regions of the world.

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There are several other substances which are used for treatment and, partially for prophylaxis. Their deployment depends mainly on the frequency of resitent parasites in the area where the drug should be used.

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Since the 17th century quinine has been used as prophylactic for malaria. The development of quinacrine, chloroquine, and primaquine in the 20th century reduced the reliance on quinine. These anti-malarial medications can be taken preventively by travellers to certain regions. Today, Quinine is still used to treat Chloroquine resistant falciparum-malaria as well as severe and cerebral stages of malaria.

Related Topics:
17th century - Quinine - Quinacrine - Chloroquine - Primaquine - 20th century - Falciparum

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Popular antimalarial drugs include

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• Artemether-Lumefantrin (Therapy)
• Artesunate-Amodiaquin (Therapy)
• Atovaquon-Proguanil (Therapy and prophylaxis)
• Quinin (Therapy)
• Chloroquin (Therapy and prophylaxis; use restricted due to resistence)
• Doxycyclin (an antibiotic: mainly for prophylaxis)
• Mefloquin (Therapy and prophylaxis)
• Primaquin (Therapy of certain malaria types)
• Proguanil (Prophylaxis)
• Sulfadoxin-Pyrimethamin (Therapy; prophylaxis for semi-immune pregnant women in endemic countries as "Intermittent Preventive Treatment" - IPT)

Extracts from the plant Artemisia (specifically Artemisia annua), containing the compound artemisinin or derivatives, a substance unrelated to the quinine derivatives, offer over 90% efficacy rates but their supply is not meeting demand. On June 5, 2005 Nature (journal) released a study about possible drug resistance, although the finding could help the development of other drugs.{{mn|DrugResistance|3}}

Related Topics:
Artemisia - Artemisia annua - Artemisinin - June 5 - 2005 - Nature (journal)

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Although efficacious antimalarial drugs are on the market, the disease poses a big threat for those people living in endemic areas having no proper and prompt access to effective drugs. Accessibility of drug sellers and health facilities as well as drug costs are major obstacles. Medecins Sans Frontieres estimates that the cost to treat a malaria-infected person in an endemic country is between $0.25 and $2.40. {{mn|Cost|2}}.

Related Topics:
Medecins Sans Frontieres - $

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