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MALARIA |
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Malaria is an infection
characterized by fever, shivering, chills, malaise, headache
and |
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sweats, but it can present as a
respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. |
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It is caused by any of four
different species of the Plasmodium parasite, passed on via
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the bite of an infected mosquito. |
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Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum is life threatening. |
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Infants, pregnant women the elder
persons and those with comprised immunity may be |
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at greater risk. |
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Different species of parasite |
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Malaria is caused by infection by
one of four different species of the Plasmodium |
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parasite P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and
P. falciparum. |
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The most common infections are those caused by P. vivax and P. falciparum. |
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Falciparum malaria
can be life threatening without proper medical treatment
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Modes of transmission and
incubation periods |
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Malarial parasites are carried by
the female anopheles mosquito, which tends to be |
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active at dusk and early evening.
When an infected mosquito bites a human, the |
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parasites roam in the
bloodstream |
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for around one hour before entering
the liver and multiplying. After six to 16 days |
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depending on the species the parasites return to the
bloodstream to invade and |
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multiply inside red blood cells
until they burst. |
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The released parasites then invade
fresh red blood cells and the destruction continues. |
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The incubation period (the time
between the mosquito bite and the onset of symptoms) |
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ranges from 8 to 30 days, once again depending on
the parasite species. |
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Other less common modes of
transmission include blood transfusion, sharing needles or
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syringes, etc. |
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Symptoms |
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A slow rising fever that riseto a rapid temperature and fall |
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Headache |
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Nausea |
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Chills |
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Shivering |
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Excessive sweating |
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General malaise |
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Anaemia and associated symptoms. |
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Falciparum malaria
can be fatal |
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The typical symptoms of malaria
described above can lead to further symptoms and
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complications |
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in the case of P.
falciparum infection, including:
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Jaundice |
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Coagulation defects |
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Rupture of the spleen |
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Haemolytic Anaemia |
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Shock |
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Kidney failure |
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Liver failure |
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Pulmonary oedema |
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Cerebral malaria, producing coma |
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Diagnosis |
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Physical examination will show
enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly) and spleen |
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(splenomegaly) may be present. |
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Malaria is principally diagnosed
with a peripheral blood test that screens for the
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presence of malaria parasites. |
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Prevention: |
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Avoid mosquito bites |
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Keep home, area outside home,
clean. Take care there should not be any stagnant |
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water or mud. |
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Use 'knockdown' sprays, mosquito
coils and plug-in vaporizing devices indoors. |
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Sleep under mosquito nets treated
with repellents or insecticides. |
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Homoeopathic
treatment: |
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BRYONIA: It is
prescribed when high fever with dryness &intense thirst. |
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GELSEMIUM: Violent headache,
absence of thirst. Great exhaustion while heat & sweat |
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stage. Chilliness along the spine. |
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IPECAC: Fever with nausea
vomiting, not relieved by vomiting. Slight chill with much
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heat without thirst. |
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PULS: Chilliness even in
warm room without thirst ,mostly suited for vivax malaria |
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NATRUM MUR:
Generally fever starts with chill between 8am to 11 am.
Suitable for
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vivax malaria |
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ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS:
Along with fever when there is great exhaustiveness |
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(NOTE: The
above given information about medicine is just for
information, patient should not take medicines by own
as homoeopathy believes in individualization and medicine &
dose changes for each person)
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