Plasmodium is a parasite the causative agent for Malaria!! In this slides one can learn about the basics of the malaria and the areas affected in Tamil Nadu.

1. THE MALARIAL PARASITE

2.  The disease caused by plasmodium parasite
transmitted by the bite of infected mosquito.
 The severity of malaria varies based on the species of
plasmodium.
 Malaria is usually found in tropical and subtropical
climates where the parasites that cause it live.
 typically transmitted through the bite of an infected
Anopheles mosquito.

3.  Plasmodium falciparum (the cause of malignant
tertian malaria) (tertian:fever recurs every second day)
 Plasmodium vivax (the most frequent cause of benign
tertian malaria)
 Plasmodium ovale (the other, less frequent, cause of
benign tertian malaria)
 Plasmodium malariae (the cause of benign quartan
malaria)
 Plasmodium knowlesi (the cause of severe malaria in
South East Asia since 1965)

5.  The life cycle (Figure 1) is almost the same for all the
five species that infect humans and follows three
stages:
(I) ifection of a human with sporozoites
(II) asexual reproduction
(III) sexual reproduction
The two first stages take place exclusively into the
human body, while the third one starts in the human
body and is completed into the mosquito organism.

6.  LIFE CYCLE

7.  SYMPTOM OF MALARIA
 A typical attack of malaria comprises of three distinct stages.
 1. COLD STAGE:
Begins with the feeling of cold, shivering and
headache. The individual covers himself with quilts
the blankets. Fingers and lips become bluish with dry
skin. Hairs on skin are raised. It may continue for 15
minutes to 1 hour.
2. HOT STAGE:
The fever rises very high so the patient feels burning
heat. He takes off the cloths. The patient feels intense
headache with nausea and vomiting. This stage lasts
from 2-6 hours. Pulse is heavy and bounding, feels
intense thirsty.
3. SWEATING STAGE:
In this stage, fever comes down with profuse
sweating. Patient normally goes into deep sleep, on
awaking feels weak. This stage lasts 2-4 hours.

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

10.  No primaquine for infants and pregnant women
Chloroquine Resistant P.falciparum Areas
(Ramanathapuram and Chennai only)

11.  In Tamil Nadu State during 90's a total of 1,20,029
cases were recorded out of which 59.6 % were
recorded from the urban areas and 40.4% in rural.
 The coastal villages of Ramanathapuram, Paramakudi
and Nagapattinam and riverine villages of
Dharmapuri,Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai were
endemic for malaria.

12.  IMPORTED CASES:
 A total of 145 cases are imported from Kerala during
2000,121 from Andhra Pradesh and 99 cases from
Karnataka. The importation of cases are due to
 1) Migration of Labourers and fishermen.
2) Pilgrimage population.
3) Movement of people from one place to another
seeking jobs,business,etc.

14.  PREVENTION
 There’s no vaccine available to prevent
malaria
 Insecticide-treated bed nets. Most
malaria-carrying mosquitoes bite at night,
so insecticide-treated mosquito nets can
be a life-saving barrier. ...
 Treating women during pregnancy.
Pregnant women have lower immunity. ...
 Health education. ...
 Environmental methods.