ARTHRITIS AND YOUR HEALTH

WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?

Arthritis could be explained as inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 80 different types of arthritis, each with different causes and treatment methods. The two most common types are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The symptoms of arthritis usually develop over time. Arthritis is common in adults over the age of 65, but it can also develop in children, teens, and younger adults. Arthritis is more common in women than men and in people who are overweight.

SYMPTOMS:

Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the most common symptoms of arthritis. Your range of motion may also decrease, and you may experience redness of the skin around the joint. Many people with arthritis notice their symptoms are worse in the morning.

In the case of RA, you may feel tired or experience a loss of appetite due to the inflammation the immune system’s activity causes. You may also become anemic — meaning your red blood cell count decreases — or have a slight fever. Severe RA can cause joint deformity if left untreated.

CAUSES:

Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in your joints. It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue cause some forms of arthritis.

Normal wear and tear causes OA, one of the most common forms of arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue. Your risk of developing OA may be higher if you have a family history of the disease.

Another common form of arthritis, RA, is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your body’s immune system attacks the tissues of the body. These attacks affect the synovium, a soft tissue in your joints that produces a fluid that nourishes the cartilage and lubricates the joints.

RA is a disease of the synovium that will invade and destroy a joint. It can eventually lead to the destruction of both bone and cartilage inside the joint.

The exact cause of the immune system’s attacks is unknown. But scientists have discovered genetic markers that increase your risk of developing RA fivefold.

TREATMENT:

The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of pain you’re experiencing and prevent additional damage to the joints. You will need to learn what works best for you in terms of controlling pain. Some people find heating pads and ice packs to be soothing. Others use mobility assistance devices, like canes or walkers, to help take pressure off sore joints.

Improving your joint function is also important.

MEDICATION:

Analgesics, such as hydrocodone (Vicodin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), are effective for pain management, but don’t help decrease inflammation.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and salicylates, help control pain and inflammation. Salicylates can thin the blood, so they should be used very cautiously with additional blood thinning medications.

Menthol or capsaicin creams block the transmission of pain signals from your joints.

Immunosuppressants like prednisone or cortisone help reduce inflammation.

SURGERY:

Surgery to replace your joint with an artificial one may be an option. This form of surgery is most at times performed to replace hips and knees.

If your arthritis is most severe in your fingers or wrists, your doctor may perform a joint fusion. In this procedure, the ends of your bones are locked together until they heal and become one.

PHYSICAL THERAPY:

Physical therapy involving exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint is a core component of arthritis treatment.

Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight reduce the risk of developing arthritis, majorly OA and can reduce symptoms if you already have it.

Eating a healthy diet is important for weight loss. Choosing a diet with lots of antioxidants, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, can help reduce inflammation. Other inflammation-reducing foods include fish and nuts.

Foods to minimize or avoid if you have arthritis include fried foods, processed foods, dairy products, and high intakes of meat.

Some research also suggests that gluten antibodies may be present in people with RA. A gluten-free diet may improve symptoms and disease progression.

Regular exercise will keep your joints flexible. Swimming is often a good form of exercise for people with arthritis because it doesn’t put pressure on your joints the way running and walking do. Staying active is important, but you should also be sure to rest when you need to and avoid overexerting yourself.

EXERCISES YOU CAN TRY AT HOME:

the head tilt, neck rotation, and other exercises to relieve pain in your neck

finger bends and thumb bends to ease pain in your hands

leg raises, hamstring stretches, and other easy exercises for knee arthritis

DANGERS OF DEHYDRATION

Water is constantly lost throughout the day in our bodies as we breathe, sweat, urinate, and defecate. We can replenish or replace the water in our body by drinking fluids. The body can also move water around to areas where it is needed most if it starts feeling dehydrated.

Most occurrences of dehydration can be easily reversed by increasing fluid intake, but severe cases of dehydration require immediate medical attention.

Majorly, the first symptoms of dehydration include thirst, darker urine, and decreased urine production. In fact, urine color is one of the best indicators of a person's hydration level - clear urine means you are well hydrated and darker urine means you are dehydrated.

However, it is important to note that, particularly in older adults, dehydration can occur without thirst. This is why it is important to drink water regularly, more especially during hotter weather or when ill.

In moderate dehydration, symptoms to look out includes:

dry mouth

lethargy

weakness in muscles

headache

dizziness

CAUSES OF DEHYDRATION

The basic causes of dehydration are not taking in enough water, losing too much water, or a combination of both.

Most of the times, it is not possible to consume enough fluids because we are too busy, lack the facilities or strength to drink, or are in an area without potable water (while hiking or camping, for example).

Some other factors cause dehydration, they include:

Diarrhea -  The large intestine absorbs water from food matter, and diarrhea prevents this from happening. The body excretes too much water, leading to dehydration and most at times death.

Vomiting - leads to a loss of fluids and makes it difficult to replace water by drinking it.

Sweating – This is simply our bodies cooling mechanism. Our body's releases a significant amount of water. Hot weather and vigorous physical activity can increase fluid loss from sweating. Similarly, a fever can cause an increase in sweating and may dehydrate the patient, especially if there is also diarrhea and vomiting.

Diabetes - high blood sugar levels cause increased urination and fluid loss.

Frequent urination - usually caused by uncontrolled diabetes, but also can be due to alcohol and medications such as blood pressure medications, and antipsychotics.

Burns - blood vessels can become damaged, causing fluid to leak into the surrounding tissues.

Although dehydration can happen to anyone, some people are at a greater risk. Those at most risk include:

Athletes, especially those in endurance events, such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling tournaments. Dehydration can undermine performance in sports, as this article explains.

People with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, and adrenal gland disorders.

Infants and children - most commonly due to diarrhea and vomiting.

Dehydration in older adults is also common; sometimes this occurs because they drink less water so that they do not need to get up for the toilet as often. There are also changes in the brain meaning that thirst does not always occur.

COMPLICATIONS OF DEHYDRATION

If dehydration is not checked, it can lead to complications such as:

Low blood volume - less blood produces a drop in blood pressure and a reduction in the amount of oxygen reaching tissues; this can be life threatening.

Kidney problems - including kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and eventually kidney failure.

Heat injury - ranging from mild cramps to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

DIAGNOSIS OF DEHYDRATION

A doctor use both physical and mental exams to diagnose dehydration. A patient presenting symptoms such as disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fever, lack of sweat, and inelastic skin will usually be considered dehydrated.

Blood tests are often employed to test kidney function and to check sodium, potassium, and other electrolyte levels. Electrolytes are chemicals that regulate hydration in the body and are crucial for nerve and muscle function. A urine analysis will provide very useful information to help diagnose dehydration. In a dehydrated person, urine will be darker in color and more concentrated - containing a certain level of compounds called ketones.

To diagnose dehydration in infants, doctors usually check for a sunken soft spot on the skull. They may also look for a loss of sweat and certain muscle tone characteristics.

TREATMENTS

Dehydration must be treated by replenishing the fluid level in the body. This can be done by consuming clear fluids such as water, clear broths, frozen water or ice pops, or sports drinks (such as Gatorade). Some dehydration patients, however, will require intravenous fluids in order to rehydrate. People who are dehydrated should avoid drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea, and sodas.

Underlying conditions that are causing dehydration should also be treated with the appropriate medication. This may include anti-diarrhea medicines, anti-emetics (stop vomiting), and anti-fever medicines.

PREVENTION

Prevention is really the most important treatment for dehydration. Consuming lots of fluids and foods that have high water content (such as fruits and vegetables) should be enough for most people to prevent dehydration.

People should be cautious about doing activities during extreme heat or the hottest part of the day, and anyone who is exercising should make replenishing fluids a priority.

Since the elderly and very young are most at risk of being dehydrated, special attention should be given to them to make sure they are receiving enough fluids.

ARE YOU AN OPTIMIST OR PESSIMIST?

If you are self confident, you are an optimist.  Optimists surround themselves with positive people, face their fears and deal with them.  Pessimism is a mental attitude. Pessimists anticipate undesirable outcomes from a given situation which is generally referred to as situational pessimism or believes that undesirable things are going to happen to them in life more than desirable ones.

On the other hand, an Optimist is a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something.

BASIC DIFFERENCES:

“There are three basic differences in the reactions of optimists and pessimists. The first difference is that the optimist sees a setback as temporary, while the pessimist sees it as permanent. The optimist sees an unfortunate event as temporary, something that is limited in time and that has no real impact on the future. The pessimist, on the other hand, sees negative events as permanent, as part of life and destiny.

“The second difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that the optimist sees difficulties as specific, while the pessimist sees them as pervasive. This means that when things go wrong for the optimist, he looks at the event as an isolated incident, totally disconnected from other things that are going on in his daily life.

“The third difference between optimists and pessimists is that optimists see events as external, while pessimists interpret events as personal. When things go wrong, the optimist will tend to see the setback as resulting from external factors over which one has little control.

“If the optimist is cut off in traffic, for example, instead of getting angry or upset, he will simply downgrade the importance of the event.  The pessimist on the other hand, has a tendency to take everything personally. If the pessimist is cut off in traffic, he will react as though the other driver has deliberately acted to upset and frustrate him, or the devil is at it again.

“The height of the fully mature, self-actualizing personality is the ability to be objective and unemotional when caught up in the inevitable storms of daily life. The superior person has the ability to continue talking to himself in a positive and optimistic way, keeping his mind calm, clear and completely under control. The mature personality is well coordinated, more relaxed, aware and capable of interpreting events more realistically and less emotionally than is the immature personality. As a result, the mature person exerts a far greater sense of control and influence over his environment, and is far less likely to be angry, upset, or distracted.

“Look on the inevitable daily setbacks that you face as being temporary, specific and external. View the negative situation as a single event that is not connected to other events and that is caused largely by external factors, which most at times you dont have control over it. Simply refuse to see the event as being in any way permanent, pervasive or indicative of personal incompetence of inability.  Resolve to think like an optimist, no matter what happens. You may not be able to control events but you can control the way you react to them.

TAKING CONTROL

You can change your perspective in these simple ways:

“First, remind yourself continually that setbacks are only temporary, they will soon be past and nothing is as serious as you think it is.

“Second, look upon each problem as a specific event, not connected to other events and not indicative of a pattern of any kind. Deal with it and get on with your life.

“Third, recognize that when things go wrong, they are usually caused by a variety of external factors. Say to yourself, ‘What can’t be cured must be endured,’ and then get back to thinking about your goals.”

KELOIDS AND TREATMENTS

What are Keloids?

Keloids can be described as "scars that don't know when to stop." Keloids are also  referred to as a keloid scar. It is a tough heaped-up scar that rises quite abruptly above the rest of the skin. It usually has a smooth top and a pink or purple color. Keloids are irregular in shape and tend to enlarge progressively. Unlike scars, keloids do not regress over time. A keloid scar is benign and not contagious, but sometimes accompanied by severe itchiness, pain, and changes in texture.

In severe cases, it can affect movement of skin. Keloid scars are seen 15 times more frequently in people of African descent than in people of European descent. Keloids should not be confused with hypertrophic scars, which are raised scars that do not grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound

CAUSES

Doctors do not understand exactly why keloids form. Alterations in the cellular signals that control proliferation and inflammation may be related to the process of keloid formation, but these changes have not yet been characterized sufficiently to explain this defect in wound healing. So basically, It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation tissue (collagen type 3) at the site of a healed skin injury which is then slowly replaced by collagen type 1.

Keloids can develop following the minor injuries that occur with body piercing. Since this form of physical adornment has become so popular, the presence of keloidal scarring is much more prevalent. Since is not yet understood why some people are more prone to developing keloids, it is impossible to predict whether one's piercing will lead to keloid formation. Although there are some families that seem prone to forming keloids, for the most part, it's impossible to tell who will develop a keloid. It is wise for someone who has formed one keloid to avoid any elective surgery or cosmetic piercing of any body part.

SYMPTOMS

Keloids expand in claw-like growths over normal skin. They have the capability to hurt with a needle-like pain or to itch, although the degree of sensation varies from person to person.

If the keloid becomes infected, it may ulcerate. Removing the scar is one treatment option; however, it may result in more severe consequences: the probability that the resulting surgery scar will also become a keloid is high, usually greater than 50%.

CAN KELOIDS BE REMOVED?

The decision about when to treat a keloid depends on the individual and the symptoms associated with its development and its anatomical location. A chronically itchy and irritated keloid can be quite distracting. Keloids in cosmetically sensitive areas that cause disfigurement or embarrassment are obvious candidates for treatment. The larger the keloids the more difficult it is to treat.

TREATMENT

Keloid treatment methods includes:

Corticosteroid injections (intralesional steroids): These are safe but moderately painful. Injections are usually given once every four to eight weeks into the keloids and usually help flatten keloids; however, steroid injections can also make the flattened keloid redder by stimulating the formation of more superficial blood vessels.

Surgery: This is risky because cutting a keloid can trigger the formation of a similar or larger keloid. Some surgeons achieve success by injecting steroids or applying compression (using a specialized pressure device where appropriate) to the wound site for months after cutting away the keloid.

Laser: The pulsed-dye laser can be effective at flattening keloids and making them look less red. Treatment is safe and not very painful, but several treatment sessions may be needed. This method is costly, since it requires several sessions.

Silicone gel or sheeting: This involves wearing a sheet of silicone gel on the affected area continuously for months, which is hard to sustain. Results are variable.

Pressure: Special earrings are available, which when used appropriately, can cause keloids on the earlobe to shrink significantly.

Cryotherapy: Freezing keloids with liquid nitrogen may flatten them but often darkens or lightens the site of treatment.

Fluorouracil and bleomycin: Injections of these chemotherapeutic (anti-cancer) agents, alone or together with steroids, have been used for treatment of keloids.

Radiation: Some doctors have reported safe and effective use of radiation to treat keloids

IS KELOID PREVENTABLE?

The answer is NO.

The best way to deal with a keloid is not to get one. A person who has had a keloid should not undergo elective or cosmetic skin surgeries or procedures such as piercing

GOITER AND YOU

A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that causes swelling on the neck. The thyroid gland is situated in front of the windpipe and is responsible for producing and secreting hormones that regulate growth and metabolism.

The extent or degree of swelling and the severity of symptoms produced by the goiter usually depends on the individual.

Key points about goiter includes:

·    Goiter describes a condition where the thyroid gland, located in the neck, becomes enlarged.

·    Iodine deficiency is the leading cause of goiter.

·    In developed countries, goiter is usually caused by an autoimmune disease.

·    Goiter is diagnosed by physical examination, but thyroid function blood tests and scans may be used.

·    Treatment is not necessary unless the goiter is large and causes symptoms (there are often no symptoms).

CAUSES

IODINE: Iodine deficiency is the major cause of goiter worldwide, but this is rarely a cause in more economically developed countries where iodine is routinely added to salt.

As iodine is less commonly found in plants, vegan diets may lack sufficient iodine; this is less of a problem for vegans who live in countries such as the United States that add iodine to salt.

Dietary iodine is found in:

·       seafood

·       plant food grown in iodine-rich soil

·       cow's milk

The thyroid gland needs iodine to manufacture thyroid hormones, which regulate the body's rate of metabolism.

HYPERTHYROIDISM

An overactive thyroid gland is termed Hyperthyroidism. This is another cause of goiter. This usually happens as a result of Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder where the body's immunity turns on itself and attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to swell.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

This is the main cause of goiter in developed countries. Women over age 40 are at greater risk of goiter, same as people with a family history of the condition.

OTHER CAUSES

·       nodules - benign lumps

·       smoking - thiocyanate in tobacco smoke interferes with iodine absorption

·       hormonal changes - pregnancy, puberty, and menopause can affect thyroid function

·       thyroiditis - inflammation caused by infection, for example

·       lithium - a psychiatric drug that can interfere with thyroid function

·       overconsumption of iodine - too much iodine can cause a goiter

·       radiation therapy - particularly to the neck

TREATMENT

Most simple goiters are preventable through adequate intake of iodine, which is added to table salt in many countries.

Active treatment of goiter is reserved for cases that cause symptoms - otherwise, no action is taken, and some simple goiters resolve on their own. If the goiter is small and thyroid function is normal, treatment is not usually offered.

SURGERY

Surgery to reduce the size of the swelling is reserved for cases where the goiter is causing troublesome symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swallowing.

SYMPTOMS

Most goiters don’t show symptoms. The following are the most common symptoms that are seen with goiter:

·       throat symptoms of tightness, cough, and hoarseness

·       trouble swallowing

·       in severe cases, difficulty breathing (possibly with a high-pitch sound)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIBROIDS

Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. Sometimes, these growths or tumors become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. In some cases, they show no signs or symptoms at all. The growths are typically noncancerous. The cause of fibroids is unknown.
Some research shows there may be a relation between estrogen levels and fibroid. When estrogen levels are high, especially during pregnancy, fibroids tend to swell. Research has also shown it develops more with women who are taking birth control pills that contains estrogen. It has also been observed that when estrogen is low, like in menopause, fibroids tends to shrink
According to  research, 70 to 80 percent of women have them by the age of 50, most do not show symptoms.

TYPES OF FIBROIDS

Intramural Fibroids
Intramural fibroids are the most common type of fibroid. They appear within the muscular wall of the uterus. Intramural fibroids may grow larger and can stretch your womb.

Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal fibroids form on the outside of your uterus. This part of the uterus is called the serosa. They may grow large enough to make your womb appear bigger on one side.

Pedunculated Fibroids
When subserosal tumors or fibroids develop a stem, they become pedunculated fibroids.

CAUSES

As stated earlier, it is unclear why fibroids develop, but several factors may influence their formation. These factors includes

Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone are the hormones produced by the ovaries. They cause the uterine lining to regenerate during each menstrual cycle and may stimulate the growth of fibroids.

Family History
Fibroids in most cases run in the family. If your mother, sister, or grandmother has a history of this condition, you may develop it as well.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy increases the production of estrogen and progesterone in your body, this inversely increases the chances of fibroid development.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms depends on the location, size of the tumor(s) and number of the tumors. A small sized tumor and a woman at the menopause stage may not have any symptoms. Fibroids may shrink during and after menopause.
Symptoms of fibroids may include:

heavy bleeding between or during your periods

pain in the pelvis and or lower back

increased menstrual cramping

increased urination

pain during intercourse

menstruation that lasts longer than usual

pressure or fullness in your lower abdomen

swelling or enlargement of the abdomen

DIAGNOSIS

A gynecologist will do a pelvic examination. This is done to check the condition, size, and shape of your uterus.

Other tests may also be required:

Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of your uterus on a screen. This enables a doctor to see its internal structures and any fibroids present.

Pelvic MRI
MRI produces pictures of uterus, ovaries, and other pelvic organs.

TREATMENT

A treatment plan is developed by the Doctor, based on the patients age, size of fibroid(s), and overall health.

Medications
Medications to regulate your hormone levels may be prescribed to shrink fibroids. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as leuprolide (Lupron), will cause your estrogen and progesterone levels to drop. This will eventually stop menstruation and shrink fibroids.

Surgery
Surgery to remove very large or multiple growths (myomectomy) may be performed.

PREVENTION

Regular uterus check up is advised for women of age 35 and above.

When you start observing irregular mensuration, please check with your doctor.

Reduce pill intakes that has high estrogen levels.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLOR BLINDNESS

Color blindness is not a form of blindness at all, but a deficiency in the way you see color. With this vision problem, you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, such as blue and yellow or red and green.

Color blindness (color vision deficiency) is an inherited condition. It affects males more frequently than females. According to Prevent Blindness America, an estimated 8 percent of males and less than 1 percent of females have color vision problems.

Red-green color deficiency is the most common form of color blindness.

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS:

Do you have difficulty telling if colors are blue and yellow, or red and green? Do other people sometimes inform you that the color you think you are seeing is wrong? If so, it’s a sign that you have a color vision deficiency.

Contrary to popular belief, it is rare for a color blind person to see only in shades of gray.

Having color blindness does NOT mean the person doesn’t see colors, but certain colors appear washed out and are easily confused with other colors, depending on the type of color vision deficiency they have.

If  normally you have been able to see a full range of color, and gradually you started noticing you miss colors, then you definitely should visit your doctor. Sudden or gradual loss of color vision can indicate any number of underlying health problems, such as cataracts. Tests can also help to detect the color deficiency you have

CAUSES OF COLOR BLINDNESS?

It occurs when light-sensitive cells in the retina fail to respond appropriately to variations in wavelengths of light that enable people to see an array of colors. These light-sensitive cells are called photoreceptors.

The 7 million cones in the human retina are responsible for color vision, and these photoreceptors are concentrated in the central zone of the retina called the macula.

The center of the macula is called the fovea, and this tiny (0.3 mm diameter) area contains the highest concentration of cones in the retina and is responsible for our most acute color vision.

Inherited forms of color blindness often are related to deficiencies in certain types of cones or outright absence of these cones.

Apart from differences in genetic makeup, other causes of color vision defects  include:

·         Parkinson's disease (PD). Because Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder, light-sensitive nerve cells in the retina where vision processing occurs may be damaged and cannot function properly.

·         Cataracts. Clouding of the eye's natural lens that occurs with cataracts can "wash out" color vision.

·         Tiagabine for epilepsy. An antiepileptic drug known as tiagabine has been shown to reduce color vision. The effects is NOT permanent

·         Kallman's syndrome. This inherited condition involves failure of the pituitary gland, which can lead to incomplete or unusual gender-related development such as of sexual organs. Color blindness can be one symptom of this condition.

·         Aging. Color blindness also can occur when aging processes damage retinal cells.

·         Injury. An injury or damage to areas of the brain where vision processing takes place also can cause color vision deficiencies.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Lenses For Color Blindness:

Some people use special lenses to enhance color perception, they come inform of contact lens or eyeglass. These types of lenses are available from a limited number of eye care practitioners. If your eye doctor doesn't handle these types of lenses, ask for a referral so that you can seek out someone who might be able to assist you.

You also can learn ways to work around your inability to pick out certain colors. For example, you might organize and label your clothing to avoid color clashes. (Ask friends or family members to help!)

Diagnosing color vision deficiency early also may prevent learning problems during school years, particularly because many learning materials rely heavily on color perception. If your child has a color deficiency, be sure to speak with his or her teachers about it, so they can plan their lessons and presentations accordingly

#NOTE#: A major study of preschoolers has found that among Caucasian boys, one in 20 is color blind (or, more precisely, color vision deficient), and African-American, Asian and Hispanic boys have lower rates of the mostly genetic condition.

MALARIA AND YOU.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that’s typically transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Not all mosquitoes transmit malaria, specifically; it has to be an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites a human, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

When the parasites get into the body, they travel to the liver, where they grow and mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and start infecting the red blood cells. In 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. This causes symptoms that occur in cycles that stay or lasts two or more days.

Malaria parasites lives majorly in subtropical areas and that’s why people that lives there suffer from it majorly.

Apart from direct contact with an infected anopheles mosquito, malaria can be transmitted through blood. An infected mother can also pass the disease to her baby at birth. This is known as congenital malaria. Malaria can also be transmitted through:

• an organ transplant
• a transfusion
• use of shared needles or syringes.

SYMPTOMS:

The symptoms of malaria normally develop within 10 days to four weeks following the infection. In some people, symptoms may not develop for several months usually due to the individuals immune system strength. Some malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant for long periods of time. Common symptoms of malaria include:

• shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• anemia
• muscle pain
• convulsions
• coma
• bloody stools

PREVENTION:

Malaria has no vaccine available for prevention. Talk to your doctor if you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common or if you live in such an area. You may be prescribed medications to prevent the disease. These medications are the same as those used to treat the disease and can be taken before, during, and after your trip.

Sleeping under a mosquito net may help prevent being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Keeping a clean environment plays a big role in staying away from anopheles mosquitoes. This breed of mosquitoes strive well in a dirty environment, water logged areas, areas with stagnated waters etc.

Clear bushes around your surroundings, they breed mosquitoes.