By anne

* The tropical coast → copious amounts of rain (up to 30 feet). * In the northern → much lower (Drought). South → warmer * West → mountains. cool

* Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. * Malaria is preventable and curable. * 4 types of human malaria: (based on vectors). Plasmodium falciparum P. vivax P. malariae P. ovale. * Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are the most common. Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly. Mode of transmission * exclusively through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes * seasonal transmission * The intensity of transmission depends on the parasite, the vector, the human host, and the environment (weather). Risk Groups: young children (especially), pregnant women, elderly. Symptoms: fever, headache, chills and vomiting. Severe cases → severe anemia, respiratory distress (metabolic acidosis), or cerebral malaria. In adults, multi-organ involvement.

* diagnosis: blood smear * Treatment: Drugs: Chloroquine (Aralen) → RESISTANCE Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) Mefloquine Combination of atovaquone and proguanil (Malarone) artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) → BEST (Falciparum), monotherapy discouraged. Prevention: Vector control Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) Long-lasting insecticide impregnated nets (LLINs)→ preferred form of ITNs. Indoor spraying with residual insecticides Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides→most powerful way. effective for 3–6 months, depending on the insecticide used and the type of surface. DDT can be effective for 9–12 months in some cases. Longer-lasting forms of IRS insecticides are under development. Drugs can also be used for prevention. For travellers→chemoprophylaxis (suppression of the blood stage). Intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for pregnant women living in high transmission areas (WHO). For infants: 3 doses of intermittent preventive treatment with SP along with routine vaccinations.

STATISTICS : >Malaria cases approx 2,000,000-deaths 4,943 (esp children under 5) >leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Cameroon. >in 2008 show 14% of consultations in hospitals, 43% of deaths malaria related, ⅔ of hospitalizations of children under 5 and the same for pregnant women and deaths >45% of cases of absence from work or school are due to malaria. Anti-malaria campaign: 16 AUGUST 2011 * * Distribution of mosquito-treated nets (approx 2 million to pregnant women and children < 5) * treatment of malaria during pregnancy and the administration of the combine therapy treatment based on artemisinin., * training of nearly community relays personnel in over 1500 health districts nationwide * Decreased cost of treatment: (for a single attack) now 70fcfa for a child and 1000 CFA francs per adult

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