Unit 12C: TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
CASE STUDY
Malaria
Introduction
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite known as plasmodium. It is known to affect
people from low economically developed countries, most common in Africa, and can cause
symptoms such as: vomiting and a fever. The disease is caused by a vector, mosquitos, which can be
transmitted from human to another human, through bites from the flesh. It causes disease by the
parasites multiplying in the liver, eventually leading to the infection of red blood cells in the blood.
The infection of malaria can be prevented by equipment such as: insecticide- treated bed nets and
the spraying of insecticide, indoors. Usually, an infected person is treated with antimalarial drugs,
typically tablets, which are ingested orally (TDR 2020).
Local availability
Africa is the most common world region affected by Malaria- with Nigeria, Democratic Republic of
Congo, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and Cote d’Ivoire being countries with
the highest cases of malaria (103 million cases altogether) (WHO 2020). Malaria tends to affect
women and children, under the age of five, the most. In Africa, they generally use the self-treatment
method by buying over- the counter medicines. Many studies have been done to investigate the bio-
availability of antimalarial drug; the results are varied. For example, in Kenya, a few antimalarial
drugs have been proven to be bioequivalent. However, in Nigeria, there is evidence for counterfeit
drugs as some drugs available do not contain the full ingredients for the drug to be effective
(Antimalarial Drug Quality in Africa 2007).
Side effects
The main names of antimalarial drugs, used to treat malaria, include mefloquine, doxycycline and
atovaquone and chloroquine. Although the side effects from taking the individual medication is
slightly varied, they all produce a lot of common side effects. Examples of these include nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, diarrhoea, insomnia, dizziness, itchy skin and visual
disturbances. Other side effects can be caused by consuming mefloquine, although these are rare:
depression, confusion, severe dizziness, hallucinations and acute anxiety. Mefloquine, chloroquine,
atovaquone and doxycycline can all be purchased at pharmacies; mefloquine can specifically be
found in retail pharmacies (Sing Health 2019).
Contraindications
Amodiaquine is an antimalarial drug, very similar to chloroquine, in terms of its effectiveness and the
types of malaria it is used against. The medication should not be administrated to patients, who
have a history of hypersensitivity and should never be given, in any circumstances, to patients who
have been known to have hepatotoxicity, hepatic impairment, retinopathy and neutropenia. This
drug, amodiaquine, is well known to be extremely effective in preventing malaria, however
infections and occur and be noticed, whilst using it. It is suggested that other malarial prevention
equipment Is used along side taking medication (NCBI 2015). The top medications used for treating
malaria; mefloquine, atovaquone and doxycycline- all have similar contraindications, when
consuming the medication. All the antimalarial medication must not be taken when a woman is
pregnant or is at the stage of breastfeeding. Atovaquone, specifically should not be taken if a person
CASE STUDY
Malaria
Introduction
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite known as plasmodium. It is known to affect
people from low economically developed countries, most common in Africa, and can cause
symptoms such as: vomiting and a fever. The disease is caused by a vector, mosquitos, which can be
transmitted from human to another human, through bites from the flesh. It causes disease by the
parasites multiplying in the liver, eventually leading to the infection of red blood cells in the blood.
The infection of malaria can be prevented by equipment such as: insecticide- treated bed nets and
the spraying of insecticide, indoors. Usually, an infected person is treated with antimalarial drugs,
typically tablets, which are ingested orally (TDR 2020).
Local availability
Africa is the most common world region affected by Malaria- with Nigeria, Democratic Republic of
Congo, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and Cote d’Ivoire being countries with
the highest cases of malaria (103 million cases altogether) (WHO 2020). Malaria tends to affect
women and children, under the age of five, the most. In Africa, they generally use the self-treatment
method by buying over- the counter medicines. Many studies have been done to investigate the bio-
availability of antimalarial drug; the results are varied. For example, in Kenya, a few antimalarial
drugs have been proven to be bioequivalent. However, in Nigeria, there is evidence for counterfeit
drugs as some drugs available do not contain the full ingredients for the drug to be effective
(Antimalarial Drug Quality in Africa 2007).
Side effects
The main names of antimalarial drugs, used to treat malaria, include mefloquine, doxycycline and
atovaquone and chloroquine. Although the side effects from taking the individual medication is
slightly varied, they all produce a lot of common side effects. Examples of these include nausea,
vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, diarrhoea, insomnia, dizziness, itchy skin and visual
disturbances. Other side effects can be caused by consuming mefloquine, although these are rare:
depression, confusion, severe dizziness, hallucinations and acute anxiety. Mefloquine, chloroquine,
atovaquone and doxycycline can all be purchased at pharmacies; mefloquine can specifically be
found in retail pharmacies (Sing Health 2019).
Contraindications
Amodiaquine is an antimalarial drug, very similar to chloroquine, in terms of its effectiveness and the
types of malaria it is used against. The medication should not be administrated to patients, who
have a history of hypersensitivity and should never be given, in any circumstances, to patients who
have been known to have hepatotoxicity, hepatic impairment, retinopathy and neutropenia. This
drug, amodiaquine, is well known to be extremely effective in preventing malaria, however
infections and occur and be noticed, whilst using it. It is suggested that other malarial prevention
equipment Is used along side taking medication (NCBI 2015). The top medications used for treating
malaria; mefloquine, atovaquone and doxycycline- all have similar contraindications, when
consuming the medication. All the antimalarial medication must not be taken when a woman is
pregnant or is at the stage of breastfeeding. Atovaquone, specifically should not be taken if a person
