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This terrible disease transmitted by mosquitoes is a major global health threat. Is science a close to a final victory over malaria? Without treatment, the chances of surviving a severe infection with malaria are null. With medication, patients may survive, but what is actually worrying is that more and more types of medication are losing their effectiveness. Resistance to drugs is a serious threat. History has taught us that every time we thought we finally managed to fool malaria, we received a humbling lesson – that we are dealing with a very stubborn parasite. However, there might still be hope in the form of an anti-malaria vaccine. GlaxoSmithKline, a British drug producer, is seeking regulatory approval for the world's first anti-malaria vaccine after trials which showed that it successfully reduced the number of malaria cases in African children, according to BBC News. GlaxoSmithKline is developing the vaccine in partnership with the Path Malaria Vaccine Initiative, a non-profit organization, using funding received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The vaccine known as RTSS proved to be efficient in cutting the number of malaria cases in half among young children, and at the same time reduced the number of malaria cases in infants by 25%, in the largest ever trial conducted on African children. Relying on the data, GlaxoSmithKline plans to submit the vaccine for approval in 2014, and as early as 2015 the company could market the world’s first malaria vaccine. “Malaria is not just one of the world's biggest killers of children, it also burdens health systems, hinders children's development and puts a brake on economic growth. An effective malaria vaccine would have an enormous impact on the developing world”, stated UK politician Lynne Featherstone. What is malaria? Malaria is an infectious disease common in many tropical and subtropical areas. In the absence of appropriate prevention and treatment, malaria can lead to death. What causes malaria? Malaria is caused by a group of protozoan parasites called Plasmodium. The malaria parasite is transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquitoes bite, mainly between dusk and dawn. The female anopheles mosquito is smaller than the male and can easily enter a room through nets and cracks. How does malaria manifest itself? Mainly, malaria is manifested through a fever, which occurs seven days after the first possible exposure or three months (rarely later than that) after the last possible exposure. Any fever that occurs in less than seven days after a potential exposure is not caused by malaria. There are more severe forms of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which may be manifest through fever, chills, headaches, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, cough, diarrhea and abdominal pain. To these, one may add the associated symptoms of organ failure such as acute renal failure, generalized convulsions, a circulatory collapse, followed by drowsiness, coma and death. In order to prevent mosquito bites, experts recommend: • Limiting outdoor activities after dark and during the night (these are times when the female anopheles mosquito attacks its victims). Tourists are advised that in this interval they stay indoors, in protected rooms. • Wearing clothes that can provide protection: long pants, long-sleeved shirts. • Using an insect repellent spray. • Using anti-insect nets hung over the bed, especially at night. For additional protection it is recommended to spray nets with mosquito repellent. • Using insect spray inside the rooms. Author Bio: Better health and fitness is the necessity of the life and at the healthrow.net you can find very useful health resources.
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