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DIAGNOSISMalaria is difficult to diagnose based on symptomsalone. This

is because the intermittent fever and othersymptoms can be

quite variable and could be caused by otherillnesses. A

diagnosis of malaria is usually made by examining asample of the

patients blood under the microscope to detectmalaria parasites

in red blood cells. The different species ofPlasmodium can be

distinguished by their appearance under themicroscope.

Parasites can be difficult to detect in the early stagesof malaria,

in cases of chronic infections, or in Plasmodiumfalciparum

infections because often in these cases, not manyparasites are

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present. Recent advances have made it possible todetect

proteins or genetic material ofPlasmodium parasites

in a

patients blood.

TREATMENT

Malaria is treated with drugs that block the growth ofthe

Plasmodium parasite but do not harm the patient.Some drugs

interfere with the parasites metabolism of food,while others

prevent the parasite from reproducing. Drugs thatinterfere with

the parasites metabolism are related to quinine, thefirst known

antimalarial drug. Quinine is a chemical derived fromthe bark of

the South American cinchona tree and was used as afever

remedy by the ancient Inca in the 15th century. Thisdrug has a

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bitter taste and produces severe side effects, such asnausea,

headache, ringing in the ears, temporary hearing

loss, and

blurred vision, and large doses can be fatal.However, quinine is

still sometimes used in treating malaria today,particularly in

developing nations, because it is inexpensive andeffective.

Chloroquine is a synthetic chemical similar to

quinine. It became

the drug of choice for malaria when it was developedin the

1940s because it was effective, easy to manufacture,and lacked

most of the side effects of quinine. However, in the

last few

decades, malaria parasites in many areas havebecome resistant

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to chloroquine. Presently, it is effective againstmalaria only in

some parts of Central America and the Middle East.

Mefloquine is another drug related to quinine that isstill largely

effective, but for many people, especially those livingin

developing nations, it is too expensive to useroutinely.

PREVENTION AND

CONTROL

Malaria can be prevented by two strategies:

eliminating existing

infections that serve as a source of transmission, oreliminating

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peoples exposure to mosquitoes. Eliminating thesource of

infection requires aggressive treatment of people

who have

malaria to cure these infections, as well ascontinuous

surveillance to diagnose and treat new casespromptly.

Eliminating exposure to mosquitoes, the secondstrategy, can

be accomplished by several means. These meansinclude

permanently destroying bodies of stagnant waterwhere

mosquitoes lay their eggs; treating such habitatswith

insecticides to kill mosquito larvae; fogging orspraying

insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes; or usingmosquito netting or

protective clothing to prevent contact withmosquitoes.

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