CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious disease affecting humans and other animals, caused by parasitic
protozoans belonging to the plasmodium type. The female Anopheles Mosquito is the one transmitting
the disease, there are more than 100 species of plasmodium which can infect many animal species such
as reptiles, birds and various mammals, four species of plasmodium have long being recognisied to
infect humans in nature, in addition there is one species that naturally infects macaques which has
recently been recognise to be a zoonotic malaria in humans (CDC MALARIA).
The term malaria originate from Italian "mala aria" which means "bad air" the disease was formerly
called ague or marsh fever due to its association with swamps and marsh [Link] 1880 a french army
doctor observed the parasite inside the infected red cell of the infected people form the first time. He
proposed that malaria is cause by this organism, and a year later a carlos finlay. a cuban doctor provide
strong evidence that mosquito were transmitting the disease to Humans and from humans. (Reiter,
1999).
the disease is widespread in a tropical and sub-tropical regions that exist in a broad band around the
equator this include much of sub-saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. malaria is prevalent and
endemic in tropical and sub-tropical regions because of high rainfall consistent high temperature and
high humidity along with stagnant water in which mosquito laevae readily mature and is more common
in rural areas than in cities, the WHO estimate that in 2015 there were 214 million New cases of malaria
resulting in 438,000 death, the majority of cases (65%) occur in children under 15 years About 125
million pregnant women are at risk of infection each year, and the disease is also associated with
poverty and has major negative effect on economic development. (WHO, 2015).
The sings and symptoms of malaria usually begin 8-25 days fallowing infection (depend on plasmodium
type) which include shivering, tideness, joint pain, vomiting heamolytic anemia, joundice, hemoglobin in
the urine retinal damage and convulsion and in severe case its can causedeath, and if disease is not
properly treated the sings and symptoms may occur month later, this may lead to Resistance of parasite
to drug. (Ferri, 2009)
The disease is commonly transmitted by an infected female Anopheles mosquito, the mosquito bite
introduces the parasite from its saliva into a person's blood, the parasite travel to the liver where they
infect hepatocytes (exoerythrocyti stage), where they mature and reproduce Asexually and
asymptomatically for a period of 8-30 days, the parasite produced (merozoite) escape into the blood to
infect red blood cell after it rupture the hepatocyte and begin erythrocytic stage, within the red cell, the
parasite multiply further again asexually. periodically breaking out of their host cell to invade a fresh red
blood cells. (WHO, 2014)
Malaria is diagnosed by the microscopic examination of thick and thin blood films or with Antigen based
rapid diagnostic test method that use polymerase chain reaction to detect the parasite DNA have been
developed butu are not widely used in areas where malaria is common due to their cost and complexity.
(Nadjm and behrens, 2012)
The recommended treatment for malaria is a combination on Antimalarial medications that includes an
Artemisinin, the second medication may be either mefloquine, lumefantrine or sulfadoxine
/pyrimethamine, quinine along with deoxycyline may be used if artemisinin is not available. It is
recommended that in areas where the disease is common malaria is confirmed if possible before
treatment started due to concern of increasing drug resistant, the risk of the disease can be reduced by
preventing mosquito bite through the use of mosquito nets and insect repellent or with mosquito
control measures such as spraying insecticides and draining standing water. (WHO, 2010)
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To determine the prevalence of malarial parasite in children attending kabuga primary health care.
To identify the relative proportion of each plasmodium species causing malaria.
To educate the entire community about the harmful effects of malaria.
To educate the community on how to take measures against malaria.
1.2 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The research is intended to find out the prevalence of malarial parasite using available resources and
criteria to access the infection of the parasite among children under 15 years attending kabuga primary
health care and is limited to only children under 15years atting the hospital.
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Malaria is one of the most harmful parasitic disease that happen to be the major public health problem
all over its endermic area especially in children.
Kano state is reported with such cases of malaria every year especially during raining season. The factors
contributing to such cases include: lack of using treated mosquito net or insect repellent and also
improper sanitation, poor drainage, stagnant water and dumping of refuge which give the vector
(mosquito) uptimum environment for breading, then improper health care management, this lead to
prevalence of malarial parasite disease in the state.