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Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=230765
Malarial parasites have become drug resistant
Pranesh Sarkar
KOLKATA, Nov. 12: The malarial parasite is developing resistance against drugs by changing its genetic arrangement. This its seems to be the reason behind the sudden increase in the number of malaria deaths in the city this year, as concluded from a research conducted by the School of Tropical Medicine (STM).
Till now, the pilot study of the project has been completed and the institute has geared up to complete the research in a bigger perspective. The main objective of the research is to find out the particular genetic endowment that is causing the deaths.
A senior official of STM told The Statesman: ?The pilot study revealed that the malarial parasite easily changes its genome and thus develops the ability to fight the anti-malarial drugs. As the parasite is getting drug resistant, first line malaria drugs are failing to kill them. As a result malaria deaths have increased this year.?
The sudden increase of malaria deaths has left the state health department as well as Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in an awkward situation. So far, malaria has claimed 10 lives in the state this year, majority of the deaths occurred in the city. But the number of malaria deaths were gradually decreasing over the past few years. In 2005, the number of malaria death was three, while in 2006 the number was only one. No death was reported last year but it has increased suddenly this year catching the city on the wrong foot.
Officials of STM said they are receiving 150-200 samples of suspected cases everyday. About 50 per cent of the samples are getting confirmed as malaria. The other half of the cases are testing positive with malignant malaria, commonly caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite. This indicates the the extent of the spread of vector-borne diseases in the city.
Experts said malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium (phylum Apicomplexa). In humans malaria is caused by P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. knowlesi. Severe malaria is almost exclusively caused by P. falciparum infection and is usually detected 6-14 days after the infection is contracted. Consequences of severe malaria include coma and death if untreated~ young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), severe headache, cerebral ischemia, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), hypoglycemia, and hemoglobinuria with renal failure are the other possible symptoms.
Malarial parasites have become drug resistant
Pranesh Sarkar
KOLKATA, Nov. 12: The malarial parasite is developing resistance against drugs by changing its genetic arrangement. This its seems to be the reason behind the sudden increase in the number of malaria deaths in the city this year, as concluded from a research conducted by the School of Tropical Medicine (STM).
Till now, the pilot study of the project has been completed and the institute has geared up to complete the research in a bigger perspective. The main objective of the research is to find out the particular genetic endowment that is causing the deaths.
A senior official of STM told The Statesman: ?The pilot study revealed that the malarial parasite easily changes its genome and thus develops the ability to fight the anti-malarial drugs. As the parasite is getting drug resistant, first line malaria drugs are failing to kill them. As a result malaria deaths have increased this year.?
The sudden increase of malaria deaths has left the state health department as well as Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in an awkward situation. So far, malaria has claimed 10 lives in the state this year, majority of the deaths occurred in the city. But the number of malaria deaths were gradually decreasing over the past few years. In 2005, the number of malaria death was three, while in 2006 the number was only one. No death was reported last year but it has increased suddenly this year catching the city on the wrong foot.
Officials of STM said they are receiving 150-200 samples of suspected cases everyday. About 50 per cent of the samples are getting confirmed as malaria. The other half of the cases are testing positive with malignant malaria, commonly caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite. This indicates the the extent of the spread of vector-borne diseases in the city.
Experts said malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium (phylum Apicomplexa). In humans malaria is caused by P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. knowlesi. Severe malaria is almost exclusively caused by P. falciparum infection and is usually detected 6-14 days after the infection is contracted. Consequences of severe malaria include coma and death if untreated~ young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), severe headache, cerebral ischemia, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), hypoglycemia, and hemoglobinuria with renal failure are the other possible symptoms.