World Malaria day is observed on April 25th every year to spread awareness about the disease with various themes. This year’s theme, “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives” aims to develop new strategies to fight the disease.
Malaria is a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite usually transmitted though a mosquito bite. It is characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever. Malaria can be deadly because the loss of red blood cells during the period of infection can additionally cause anemia and jaundice. If not promptly treated, the infection can become sever and may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma and death.
Every year over 6,00,000 people die of malaria and the sad part it being a treatable disease. If malaria is diagnosed and treated quickly, most people will fully recover. The latest treatment for malaria include Artemisin – based combination therapies (ACT’s) for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Some of the preventive antimalarials include doxycyline, chloroquinone and a combination of atovaquone and proguanil.
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