2. MALARIA
Cause:
There are four parasite
species that cause
malaria in humans:
•
•
•
•
Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium malariae
Plasmodium ovale
Plasmodium falciparum
and plasmodium vivax
are the most common.
Plasmodium falciparum
is the most deadly.
Transmission:
Malaria is transmitted via
the bites of infected
Anopheles mosquitoes.
Factors impacting
transmission include the
climatic conditions that
affect the number and
survival of mosquitoes,
and human immunity.
3. Within 10 - 15 days of infection:
• Fever, headache, fatigue,
sweating, dry cough,
diorrhea enlargement of the
spleen, shivering, pain in the
joints, muscles and back,
chills, generalised
convulsions, repeated
vomiting and coma.
Children with severe malaria
often develop one or more of
the following:
SYMPTOMS
• Severe anaemia (red blood
cell deficiency), respiratory
distress in relation to
metabolic acidosis (body
accumulating too much
acid), or cerebral malaria.
In malaria endemic areas,
people may develop partial
immunity, letting asymptomatic
(producing no symptoms)
diseases to occur.
4. TREATMENT
Treatment for
uncomplicated malaria:
Treatment for severe
malaria:
Artemisinin-based
combination therapy (ACT)
– combines two active
ingredients with different
mechanisms of action.
Injectable artesunate (a
drug that treats malaria)
followed by a course of an
ACT as soon as the patient
take oral medicine.
• Best available and
recommended treatment
• Best suited for Plasmodium
falciparum
If injectable treatment
cannot be given, patients
are treated with intra-rectal
artesunate and referred to
an appropriate facility for
full parenteral treatment
(where the substance enters
the body via a route other
than the mouth or rectum).
5. PREVENTION
The common way to reduce malaria transmission at a community
scale is vector control. There are two forms of vector control:
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs)
• Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) are the preferred form of ITNs
for public health distribution programmes.
Indoor spraying with residual insecticides (IRS)
• Powerful way to rapidly reduce malaria transmission.
• Most effective when at least 80% of houses in targeted areas are
sprayed.
• Effective for 3-6 months, depending on the insecticide use and type
of surface on which it is sprayed.
6. PREVENTION
Other forms of prevention include:
• Personal protection against mosquito bites (e.g. applying
insect repellent, cover up as much as possible, etc)
• Antimalarial medicines
• Chemoprophylaxis – recommended for travellers, supresses
the blood stage of malaria infections, preventing its disease.
• Screening of dwellings to prevent mosquitoes from entering
and biting people inside.
• Use of mosquito mats and coils
10. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones, occurring when a person loses too
much bone, makes too little bone or both.
Causes:
•
Family history and genetics
•
Gender - women are twice as likely to develop osteoporosis as men. This
is due to the facts that women start life with a lower bone density than men
and they live longer.
•
Age - particularly over age 50
•
Menopause - oestrogen deficiency in women
•
Testosterone deficiency in men
•
Other hormone imbalances such as those including the parathyroid
hormone and growth hormone, which help control how well the body uses
calcium.
•
Lack of calcium and vitamin D
•
Long-term physical inactivity
•
Some medications that reduce bone density such as corticosteroids (used
for asthma and other inflammatory conditions), selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors and blood thinning medications.
•
Inadequate diet
OSTEOPOROSIS
11. SYMPTOMS
Osteoporosis is often called
a silent disease as bone
loss occurs without
symptoms until a fracture
occurs.
People are not aware that
they have osteoporosis until
their bones become so weak
that a minor strain, bump or
fall causes a hip to fracture
or a vertebra to collapse.
12. TREATMENT
•
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): for women going through
menopause, HRT assists in preventing bone density loss.
•
Testosterone treatment - recommended when a man has
osteoporosis due to low testosterone productions.
• However, both these hormone treatments are not the first to be
recommended as they can increase the risk of heart disease, breast
cancer and prostate cancer.
• Bisphosphonates - help prevent bone density loss and are nonhormonal drugs. Taking one pill per month may help slow down
bone loss.
•
Calcitonin - inhibits the cells that break down bone.
•
Calcium and vitamin D supplements - may help older patients lower
their risk of hip fractures.
•
Nutrition - eating a wide and proportioned range of nutritious foods
with vitamins and minerals.
•
Regular and healthy exercise
13. •
Ensuring that anyone with
specific risk factors for
osteoporosis to be checked
by their doctor.
• Adequate Calcium and
vitamin D intake
• Eating foods that are good
for bone health such as
fruits and vegetables.
• Exercise. The best
exercises to prevent
osteoporosis are those in
which you have to carry the
weight of your body e.g.
walking, dancing or jogging.
• Controlling alcohol and
caffeine consumption.
PREVENTION
