The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective
Malaria is a deadly disease caused by protozoan pathogens of the Plasmodium parasite. Transmission to humans occurs through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 247 million cases of malaria were recorded worldwide in 2021,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/6619010 |
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| author | Marissa Balmith Charlise Basson Sarel J. Brand |
| author_facet | Marissa Balmith Charlise Basson Sarel J. Brand |
| author_sort | Marissa Balmith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Malaria is a deadly disease caused by protozoan pathogens of the Plasmodium parasite. Transmission to humans occurs through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 247 million cases of malaria were recorded worldwide in 2021, with approximately 619 000 malaria deaths. The initial signs of malaria can be mild and challenging to diagnose due to the signs and symptoms being similar to those of other illnesses. The malaria burden remains largely concentrated in the WHO sub-Saharan African region and has been recognised as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. This review aims to contribute to the existing knowledge on malaria in South Africa, a region within sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the epidemiology and life cycle of the malaria parasite as well as diagnostic approaches for detecting malaria. In addition, nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions for treating and preventing malaria infections will also be discussed herein. While there has been a significant reduction in the global burden of this disease, malaria remains a public health issue in South Africa. As such, the implementation of effective preventative measures and strategies, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment regimens are crucial to reducing the malaria burden in South Africa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9bed814123534b6faf1a4a389c6b0b40 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9694 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-9bed814123534b6faf1a4a389c6b0b402025-02-03T01:29:31ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96942024-01-01202410.1155/2024/6619010The Malaria Burden: A South African PerspectiveMarissa Balmith0Charlise Basson1Sarel J. Brand2Department of PharmacologyDepartment of PhysiologyCenter of Excellence for Pharmaceutical SciencesMalaria is a deadly disease caused by protozoan pathogens of the Plasmodium parasite. Transmission to humans occurs through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 247 million cases of malaria were recorded worldwide in 2021, with approximately 619 000 malaria deaths. The initial signs of malaria can be mild and challenging to diagnose due to the signs and symptoms being similar to those of other illnesses. The malaria burden remains largely concentrated in the WHO sub-Saharan African region and has been recognised as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. This review aims to contribute to the existing knowledge on malaria in South Africa, a region within sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the epidemiology and life cycle of the malaria parasite as well as diagnostic approaches for detecting malaria. In addition, nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions for treating and preventing malaria infections will also be discussed herein. While there has been a significant reduction in the global burden of this disease, malaria remains a public health issue in South Africa. As such, the implementation of effective preventative measures and strategies, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment regimens are crucial to reducing the malaria burden in South Africa.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/6619010 |
| spellingShingle | Marissa Balmith Charlise Basson Sarel J. Brand The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective Journal of Tropical Medicine |
| title | The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective |
| title_full | The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective |
| title_fullStr | The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective |
| title_short | The Malaria Burden: A South African Perspective |
| title_sort | malaria burden a south african perspective |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/6619010 |
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