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Causes And Treatment Of Malaria

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The treatment of malaria is governed by a variety factors which determine the ability to successfully eradicate this disease. It is important to treat malaria as soon as possible if experiencing the related symptoms. Identifying the species of parasite is a major factor when deciding the correct treatment to use, the location of infection is equally important as well. In certain areas of the world, treatment with antimalarial drugs has become ineffective due to resistance of the parasite. Therapy with antimalarial drugs is the lone treatment that will successfully eliminate the disease. These can be administered as a monotherapy, where resources are limited, and as a more effective combination therapy. In most cases administration is …show more content…

falciparum emerged. Today these resistant strains occur in endemic areas excluding Central America, Mexico, china, and the Middle East. Multidrug resistant strains occur in Southeast Asia, South America, and sub-Saharan Africa. Resistance to P. vivax strains has also emerged originating in New Guinea and Oceania where documented reports have shown complete failure. Chloroquine resistant Infections in most of Africa, parts of Asia, and South America are treated effectively with a single dose combination treatment of sulfonamide and pyrimethamine. There are three main alternatives for Chloroquine resistant strains of P. falciparum: 1) A combination therapy of oral quinine and tetracycline, doxycycline, or clindamycin, 2) Combination therapy of Atovaquone-proguanil, and 3) monotherapy treatment with mefloquine.
During the 1980s mefloquine emerged as the successor to chloroquine monotherapy. However it is portrayed negatively through the media due to associations with suicides, homicides, and personal tragedies. Studies show that high efficacy is seen in patients on the western boarder of Myanmar, and moderate efficacy of infected patients in Bangkok and Bangladesh. These patients were free of parasitemia after a 28-day period, showing no incidences of recrudescence. There is a higher prevalence of resistance to P. falciparum infections acquired in specific areas including: the boarders of Thailand, eastern states of Burma, western provinces of Cambodia, the border

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