PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN / EXPECTANT MOTHERS

PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN / EXPECTANT MOTHERS

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of malaria among pregnant was studied by observing pregnant women showing symptoms of malaria. Laboratory diagnosis was by the microscopic technique. The result indicates that the sampled pregnant women were infected with plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium malaria at different stage of the parasitic development. The severity of the infections also varies with the individual pregnant women and from environment. After the laboratory diagnosis, the pregnant women were given chloroquine and other anti-malaria drugs. All the pregnant women were found to be responding to treatment, in conjunction to its conclusion, recommendation and references.

INTRODUCTION

Malaria is a life threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Malaria is by far the world’s most important tropical, parasite and kills more people than any other communicable disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malaria causes the death of 1 person somewhere in the world every 15 seconds and two million deaths on the average out of 300-500 million clinical case each year (Bruce- Chwatt, 2007).

Malaria is a public health problem today in Nigeria inhabited by a total of some 120 million people. Nigeria geographical location as well as climatic factors results in a continuing vulnerability of malaria (Beales, 2008).

In Nigeria, the accurate estimates have not yet been worked out what is probably true is case fatality rates by notification are fairly low. This does not invite any room for complacency although does not reflect a working health care system. Given Nigeria unpredicted rain and changes in vectors and parasite concentration, we have to be vigilant for any changes that may occur (Beales, 2008).

PREVALENCE OF MALARIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN / EXPECTANT MOTHERS

Malaria fever disease is caused by parasites that are spread by mosquitoes. The anopheles mosquitoes transmit the malaria parasites that cause malaria in humans even in pregnant women Ejezic et al., (2006).

Nigeria pregnant women are known for high prevalence of  malaria and it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country Nigeria. Onwujekwe et al., (2000). Available records show that at least 60% of the pregnant women of Nigeria suffers from at least one episode of malaria fever each year and malaria accounts for over 45% of all out-patient visits. (Zochokwu et al., 2010)

It is reported that malaria prevalence (notified cases) in 2010 was about 2.4 million. The disease accounts for 25% of the pregnant women mortality and 30% of childhood mortality in Nigeria. Therefore, it imposes great burden on the country in terms of pains suffered by its victims as well as loss in output and cost of treatment (Bruce- Chwatt, 2007).

MODE OF TRANSMISSION AND LIFE CYCLE

The life cycle of the members of this genus is very similar in pattern although the length of time may vary. The asexual cycle of the malaria parasite occurs in humans while the sexual cycle-occurs in the mosquitoes when an infected female anopheles bites a healthy person as it takes a blood meal, it introduces the parasites at the sporozoites stage into the blood of man.

Within thirty minutes, the parasite disappear from the blood and enter the liver cells where the parasites grow, multiply and develop into schizonts. A schizont may contain about 30, 000 merozoites. At this stage stage, the patient shows no symptoms of malaria.

When matured, the schizont and the liver cell rupture releasing the merozoites. The merozoites enter the red blood cells to develop into trophozoites, which feed on haemoglobin by ingesting small amounts of red cell cytoplasm. Mature trophozoites divide to form schizonts. After forty-eight hours of ingestion, mature schizonts rupture from the red cells releasing merozoites, malaria pigment (which is a product of metabolism of the haemoglobin of the red blood cell by the parasite) and toxic metabolites into the blood circulation of the host causing fever and malaria attack.

Some merozoites develop into gametocytes are ingested by female anopheles mosquito as bites an infected person or mother. The gametocytes develop into the stomach of the mosquito where they reproduce sexually into sporozoites, which migrate to its salivary gland and eventually transmitted to healthy persons as the mosquito feeds on human blood.

Plasmodium falciparium can be transmitted by transfusion of infected donor blood or by injection through the use of needle and syringes contaminated with infected blood. Occasionally, congential transfusion occurs usually when a mother is non-immune. (Walter et al., 2012)

THE MALARIA PARASITE

The causative agents of malaria (malaria parasite) are four species of plasmodium protozoa (single called parasite). They are:

i.        Plasmodium falciparium (distribution: Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic, New Guinea)

ii.            Plasmodium malaria (Distribution: predominantly Africa)

iii.          Plasmodium vivax (Distribution: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Central America, rarely in Africa).

iv.          Plasmodium ovate (Distribution: Although rare, mostly in West Africa).

Of these, Plasmodium falciparium and Plasmodium malariae accounts for the majority of malaria infection in Nigeria and the two are the most lethal form of malaria. In Nigeria the percentage distribution of species is:

Plasmodium falciparium: 75%

         Plasmodium malariae: 15%

(Bamigboye et al, 2009).

CONCLUSION

Malaria infection is a phenomenon causing challenges to the medical practitioners and genetic scientists. It is therefore very necessary to develop lasting solutions in order to enhance the proper well being of the human populace. Most importantly, proper and adequate diagnosis of malaria infection by trained personnel should always to encourage people should equally be encouraged to avoid improper sanitary attitudes.(Erah et al., 2003)

RECOMMENDATION

Finally it is necessary to make the following recommendation.

1.      With the spread of malaria infection and the development of resistance by the malaria parasite to drugs and the increasing difficulty in controlling malaria in the tropics, it is important to diagnose malaria accurately and to treat it accordingly.

2.      Proper sanitation and effective control of vectors can be achieved by altering the habit to discourage breeding of mosquito. (Salako et al., 2009)

REFERENCES

Beales, P.F (2008) Severe and complication malaria transaction R. Sco Trop Med. Hyq.

Barmigboye, E.A., and Familosi, J.B, (2009) Mortality trend at the children emergency room. University College Hospital Ibadan Nigeria, Africa Journal of medicine and medical Science.

Bruce-chwat, I.J, black, R. It can feild, I.D (2007) chemotherapy of malaria. W.H.O Monograph.

Onwujekwe, O; Hanson, K (2005) Inequalities in purchase of mosquito nets and willingness to pay for mosquito-treated nets in Nigeria. Challenge for malaria control intervention. Malaria journal 2004; 3:6

Salako, L.A., Ajayi, E.O Sowomi A., and Walker (2009) Malaria in Nigeria, Revisit Annual Tropical Medicine and Parasitological.

 Walter P, Gram J.F, Blor P.H, 2012. Pathological changes in malaria America journal of pathology Vol. 12 pp502-510