Malaria

ABSTRACTMalaria remains an important public health concern in countries where transmission occurs regularly, as well as in temperate areas and it is a major global health problem, with an estimated 500 million clinical cases occurring annually. Malaria is a complex disease that varies widely in epidemiology and clinical manifestation in different parts of the world. The most prevalent and dangerous type of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. P. vivax is a common cause of malaria in Latin America, Asia, and Oceania, but not Africa. P. malaria and P. ovale are much less common. Antimalarials are used in three different ways: prophylaxis, treatment of falciparum malaria, and treatment of non-falciparum malaria. Prophylactic antimalarials are used almost exclusively by travelers from developed countries who are visiting malaria-endemic countries. Keywords: Malaria, antimalarial drugs, plasmodium.

In this short communication, we have discussed about killer disease malaria and drug resistance caused by many popular drugs. Malaria is oldest and very important parasitic disease in mankind from ancient times. Millions of people are at high risk of this disease every year. This disease has become major cause of morbidity and mortality in this world because of emergence of resistance to first line drugs. Because of development of resistance of old drug molecules and therapies, WHO recommends combination therapies for the treatment of malaria. This short communication will highlight the reason of resistance along with new findings of molecules against resistance developed molecules in the market. Artemisinin combination therapies are first line treatment for all Plasmodium falciparum parasites in malaria endemic countries of the world according to WHO recommendations. Malaria eradication will become a battle in the world with urgent need of new drug molecule or therapy to combat against this disease leading to effective global malaria control programme.

This study was conducted at Zungur District, Bauchi Local Government Area (LGA) to assess the perception of malaria in pregnancy and prevention practice among rural women of child bearing age (15-49). A cross section survey research design, through the use of questionnaire was used in this study. Three hundred respondents were randomly selected for the study.  The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency distribution and chi square analysis to test the hypothesis. Major findings of the study are the existence of misperception of malaria been caused by mosquito, where 18% of the respondents were undecided and 16% disagreed. 39% of the respondents were undecided, 12% strongly disagreed, while 10% disagreed that malaria in pregnancy is a multidimensional public health problem. Also, two-third of the pregnant women in this study was observed to commenced ANC visits late, mostly after 20 weeks of gestation. Health education, intensification of efforts by government on malaria in pregnancy preventive strategies, and conducting of periodic monitoring and sensitization programmes on malaria in pregnancy preventive strategies by civil society organizations should be employed. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency distribution and chi square analysis to test the hypothesis.