IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS)

e-ISSN: 2278-3008, p-ISSN:2319-7676. Volume 10, Issue 3 Ver. I (May - Jun. 2015), PP 90-91
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Malaria: a significant health problem in Bangladesh

Sadniman Rahman*[1], Asma Sultana[2], Fazle Rabbe[3]
1,2,3

Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract: Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito, infecting humans and
insects alternatively. Caused by four Plasmodium species (P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale and P. malariae),
malaria is a public health problem in 90 countries around the world, affecting 300 million people and
responsible directly for about one million deaths annually. Africa accounts for 90% of the mortality burden for
malaria and South-east Asia accounts for 9% of the burden.

I.

Introduction

Bangladesh is considered as one of the malaria endemic countries in South Asia. It ranks third among
major infectious diseases causing death. Prevalence of malaria is highly endemic in 13 out of 64 districts in
Bangladesh: Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulovibazar,
Habiganj, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur and Kurigram. About 98% of total malaria cases are reported from
these districts. The number of malaria endemic sub-districts (upazilas) is 70. The total population at risk is 10.9
million. It is a major public health concern in Bangladesh and it is highly endemic in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
where prevalence was 11.7% in 2007. World Health Organization (WHO) considers malaria to be a significant
public health concern in Bangladesh. Malaria was nearly eradicated from the country by 1970s but never
disappeared in the eastern regions which are associated with tea gardens and forests. It re-emerged as one of the
major public health concern in the 1990s and remains so. Malaria transmission is mostly seasonal and
concentrated in the border regions of Bangladesh. Symptoms usually appear about 12 to 14 days after infection.
People with malaria have the following symptoms: abdominal pain, chills & sweats diarrhea, nausea & vomiting
(these symptoms only appear sometimes), headache high fevers, low blood pressure causing dizziness if moving
from a lying or sitting position to a standing position (also called orthostatic hypotension), muscle aches, poor
appetite. In people infected with P. falciparum, the following symptoms may also occur: anemia caused by the
destruction of infected red blood cells, extreme tiredness, delirium, unconsciousness, convulsions, & coma,
kidney failure, pulmonary edema (a serious condition where fluid builds up in the lungs, which can lead to
severe breathing problems). There are a number of drugs that can help prevent malaria. Most of these drugs are
also sometimes used in treatment. Chloroquine may be used where the parasite is still sensitive. Because most
Plasmodium is resistant to one or more medications, one of three medicationsmefloquine (Lariam),
doxycycline (available generically), or the combination of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride
(Malarone)is frequently needed. Doxycycline and the atovaquone and proguanil combination are the best
tolerated; mefloquine is associated with death, suicide, and neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Malaria is
treated with antimalarial medications; the ones used depend on the type and severity of the disease. The most
effective treatment for P. falciparum infection is the use of artemisinins in combination with other antimalarials
(known as artemisinin-combination therapy, or ACT). Infection with P. vivax, P. ovale or P. malariae is usually
treated without the need for hospitalization. Treatment of P. vivax requires both treatment of blood stages (with
chloroquine or ACT) and clearance of liver forms with primaquine. Though Malaria is a major public health
burden in Bangladesh, it is an entirely preventable and treatable disease. The primary objective of treatment is to
ensure a rapid and complete elimination of the Plasmodium parasite from the patients blood.

DOI: 10.9790/3008-10319091

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Malaria: a significant health problem in Bangladesh

Figure 1 Distribution of malaria prevalence in endemic areas of Bangladesh.

Acknowledgement:
Special gratitude goes to all the teachers of department of Zoology, University of Dhaka for their
support. The authors would like to thank Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and International
Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddrb) for their valuable research works.

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DOI: 10.9790/3008-10319091

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