MINISTÉRIO DA SAÚDE

INSTITUTO DE CIÊNCIAS DE SAÚDE DE TETE

QUALIFICAÇÃO DE TÉCNICOS DE MEDICINA GERAL- TURMA 10

DIRECÇÃO PEDAGÓGICA

3º Resultado de Aprendizagem do Modulo Genérico 5

Modulo: Produzir materiais escritos em língua inglesa.

Código do Modulo: UCHG025004

Topic: Malaria

Formando:

Maria Arminda Fernando José Rufino

Formador:

José Carlos José

Tete, Fevereiro 2024

Índice
1. Introduction................................................................................................................2

1.1. Objective.................................................................................................................2

1.1.1. General.................................................................................................................2

1.1.2. Specific.................................................................................................................2

2. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW....................................................................................3

2.1. MALARIA CONCEPT...........................................................................................3

2.1.1. Causes of malaria.................................................................................................3

2.1.2. Malaria transmission............................................................................................3

2.1.3. Symptoms of malaria...........................................................................................4

2.1.4. Malaria treatment.................................................................................................4

2.1.5. Malaria prevention...............................................................................................5

Conclusion......................................................................................................................6

References......................................................................................................................7
1. Introduction

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium,

transmitted by the bite of infected females of the Anopheles mosquito. This disease
represents a serious public health problem in several tropical and subtropical regions
of the world, especially in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. Malaria can
cause symptoms such as high fever, chills, sweating and, in severe cases, lead to
death. Disease control involves preventive measures, such as the use of mosquito nets,
insecticides and antimalarial drugs. This work aims to explore the general aspects of
malaria, its impacts on public health and strategies for prevention and treatment.

1.1. Objective

1.1.1. General

 Analyze the main aspects of malaria, including its transmission, symptoms,

impact on public health and prevention and treatment strategies.

1.1.2. Specific

 Identify the causation agents of malaria and the transmission mechanisms.

 Describe the clinical symptoms and stages of the disease.
 Present the main forms of prevention and treatment available.


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2. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW

2.1. MALARIA CONCEPT

Malaria is also known as malaria, malaria, palustre fever, intermittent fever,

benign third fever, malignant third fever, in addition to popular names such as maleita,
sezão, tremedeira, mixer or fever.

Malaria is an acute febrile infectious disease transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles
female mosquito, infected by the Plasmodium microorganism.

2.1.1. Causes of malaria

Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which are transmitted to

people by the bite of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles, called
"malaria vectors". There are five species of parasites that cause malaria in humans and
two of them - P. falciparum and P. vivax - present the greatest threat.

2.1.2. Malaria transmission

The protozoan is transmitted to man by blood, usually through the bite of the
Anopheles mosquito female, infected by Plasmodium or, more rarely, by another type
of means that puts the blood of an infected person in contact with that of another
healthy person, such as sharing syringes (drug users), blood transfusion or even from
mother to fetus, during pregnancy.

Malaria is transmitted through the bite of the female mosquito of the genus
Anopheles infected by one or more species of protozoan of the genus Plasmodium.
The anopheline mosquito is also known as carapanã, muriçoca, sovela, mosquito-
prego and bicuda. These mosquitoes are more abundant at dusk and dawn. However,
they are found biting throughout the night. Only female mosquitoes of the genus
Anopheles are able to transmit malaria. Malaria cannot be transmitted by water.

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 The preferred places chosen by malaria-transmitting mosquitoes to lay their eggs
(hards) are collections of clean, shaded and low-flow water, very frequent in the
Brazilian Amazon. The cycle begins when the mosquito bites an individual with
malaria by sucking the blood with parasites (plasmodiums). In mosquitoes, plasmodia
develop and multiply. The cycle is completed when these infected mosquitoes bite a
new individual, infecting the person with the parasites.

The incubation period, that is, the interval between the acquisition of the parasite
by the bite of the female mosquito until the appearance of the first symptoms, varies
according to the plasmodium species. For Plamodium falciparum, minimum of seven
days; P. vivax, from 10 to 30 days and P. malariae, 18 to 30 days. There is no direct
transmission of the disease from person to person. Other forms of transmission may
also occur in rarer cases by: blood transfusion, use of contaminated syringes,
laboratory accidents and congenital transmission.

2.1.3. Symptoms of malaria

The most common symptoms are: chills, high fever (at first continuous and then
often every three days), headaches and muscle pains, tachycardia (increased
heartbeat), enlarged spleen and sometimes delusions. In the case of Plasmodium
falciparum infection, there is also a ten chance of developing what is called cerebral
malaria, responsible for about 80% of the lethal cases of the disease. In addition to
current symptoms, slight stiffness in the nape of the neck, sensory disturbances,
disorientation, drowsiness or excitement, convulsions, vomiting and headaches
appear, and the patient may reach a coma.

2.1.4. Malaria treatment

The decision on how to treat the patient with malaria should be in accordance with
the Malaria Therapy Manual, edited by the Ministry of Health, and be guided by the
following aspects:

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  Plasmodium species: depending on the plasmodium species, the patient will
receive a type of treatment;
 Severity of the disease: due to the need for injectable drugs of faster action on
parasites, in order to reduce lethality.

Malaria treatment is done with antimalarial drugs that are free and provided by SUS
(Sistema Único de Saúde).

The treatment aims to prevent the development of the parasite and the dose may
vary according to the severity of the disease, parasite species and age and weight of
the patient.

When the treatment is done quickly, and correctly, malaria has a cure. However,
when treatment is not instituted immediately, the person can develop severe and
complicated malaria, especially if he has been bitten by the mosquito that transmits
Plasmodium falciparum, and may have serious complications such as damage to the
liver, kidneys and brain or even die.

2.1.5. Malaria prevention

 Individual prevention measures:

Use of mosquito nets impregnated or not with insecticides, clothes that protect
legs and arms, screens on doors and windows, use of repellents.

 Collective prevention measures:

Drainage, small sanitation works to eliminate breeding grounds from the vector,
landfill, cleaning of the margins of breeding grounds, modification of water flow,
control of aquatic vegetation, improvement of housing and working conditions,
rational use of the land.

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Conclusion

Malaria remains a disease of great global relevance, causing a significant impact on

the health and economy of several countries. Despite advances in prevention and
treatment, there are still challenges to be overcome, such as the resistance of parasites
to medicines and mosquitoes to insecticides. The adoption of effective measures, such
as the distribution of insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets and the development of
vaccines, can significantly contribute to reducing the incidence of the disease. The
fight against malaria requires joint efforts between governments, health institutions
and the scientific community to ensure a future free of idence of the disease.

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References

1. WHO. World Malaria Report 2023. World Health Organization, 2023.

2. CDC Malaria - Biology, Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2023.
3. Ministry of Health. Malaria treatment guide in Brazil. Brasilia, 2022