All malaria parasites are pathogenic to man;
increasing morbidity rates in poor countries that constrain economic growth. It
reduces productivity and income. Apart from economic problem, malaria also
constitutes physiological, clinical and epidemiological problems. Children and
pregnant women encounter most of the problems of disease.
PROBLEMS IN CHILDHOOD
Many problems are encountered in children as a
result of malaria infection which includes anaemia, childhood nephritic
syndrome, celebral malaria e.t.c. Anaemia is a major problem of malaria
especially in children .It is partly as a result of the distribution of
erythrocytes by the parasites. When oxygen supply is reduced below normal need,
anoxic anaemia results. On the other hand, if the host does not utilize
adequate oxygen supply because of pathological changes in the metabolizing
cells cytotoxic anaemia results i.e substances that are toxic to the cell.
Anaemia is usually fatal in children.
Abdurraham,(1983), in a review of the aetiology and pathogenesis of the
childhood nephritic syndrome in Africa refers to P. malariae as the case of the
syndrome in Africa. Nephritic syndrome affects
the kidney function in children.
Another
problem of the diseases is hypoglycaemia, which is the reduction in the glucose level of
the blood. Hypoglycaemia has been associated with P.falciparium malaria.
Cerebral
malaria is due to the discolouration of the brain in severe malaria. Cerebral
malaria is often fatal and results in death of many African child. Convulsion
may aiso set in,unrousable coma,pulmonary oedema,spontaneous bleeding as a
result of malaria infection.
PROBLEMS IN PREGNANT
WOMEN
Malaria may pose a serious threat to a pregnant
women and her foetus. Malaria infection in pregnant women is more severe than
in non-pregnant women. It is a critical problem in pregnancy. Various studies
show that parasitaemia increase between the first and second trimester of
pregnancy. Malaria may increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes which
includes abortion,anaemia , premature labour, neonatal deaths and low births
weights (WHO 2003).
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