MALARIA.

DEFINITION.

• Malaria is an acute infectious disease caused by protozoa which is introduced into the body through the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito.• Most malaria cases in Ghana is caused by

the Falciparium.• The incubation period is between 10 – 15

days with the Falciparium.

PARASITES THAT CAUSES MALARIA.

Malaria is caused by 4 species of plasmodium namely;

• PLASMODIUM VIVAX.• PLAMODIUM OVALE.• PLASMODIUM MALARIAE.• PLASMODIUM FALCIPARIUM.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION.

• Through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito.

• Through transfusion of an infected blood with the malaria parasites.

• Through the use of shared contaminated needles and syringes by drug users.

CLINICAL FEATURES.

• Fever• Chills• Sweating• Malaise• Nausea• Vomiting• Dizziness• Headache• Muscle pain.

• Loss of appetite• Loss of weight• Dark brown coloured

urine.• Convulsion in children.

DIAGNOSIS.

• Clinical features• Full blood count• Blood film (Bf) for malaria parasites.

NURSING MANAGEMENT.

• Psychological care.• Rest and sleep.• Observation.• Nutrition.• Exercise.

• Personal hygiene.• Elimination.• Medication.

Every nursing management must in include the following;

PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE.

• Reassure patient to allay fear and anxiety.• Explain disease condition to patient and

relatives and allow them to ask questions and answer tactfully.

• Explain all procedures to be carried on patient to the patient and family.

REST AND SLEEP.• Nurse patient in a serene and a well ventilated room.• Restrict visitors during sleeping hours.• Provide low bed with side rails to prevent patient

from falls.• All procedures to be carried out on patient must be

grouped to avoid disturbing the patient whiles sleeping.

• Provide a comfortable bed free off creases and crumps.

• Perform sleeping rituals for patient if he/she has. like serving warm drinks or playing cool music.

OBSERVATION.

• Observe vital signs, record and report any abnormalities. If temperature is high, tepid sponge and serve prescribed anti pyretic medications.

• Observe vomitus for amount, odour, blood and colour.• Observe bowl movement for constipation or diarrhoea.• Observe for side effects of medications served.• Observe stool for amount, odour and colour.• Monitor input and output by maintaining the input and

out put chart to check for dehydration or over hydration.

NUTRITION.

• Serve a well balanced diet rich in protein, vitamin, iron and carbohydrate to promote energy.

• Serve food in bits but at frequent intervals.• Serve food attractively.• Encourage patient to brush his/her teeth to boost appetite.• Remove bed pans and all unattractive articles out of

patients sight.• Encourage patient to drink more fluids to prevent

dehydration due to profuse sweating and vomiting.

PERSONAL HYGIENE.

• Encourage patient to bath at least twice daily.• Encourage patient to brush his/her teeth at least

twice daily.• Encourage patient to wash hands before eating and

after visiting the toilet.• Encourage patient to change cloth and bed linen

daily due to sweating.

ELIMINATION.

• Serve bed pans and urinals to help patient pass urine or faeces.

• Apply warm compress to patient lower abdomen to help him pass urine or open nearby taps to have psychological influence on him/her to pass urine.

• Give enema to enable patient pass faeces.

EXERCISE.

Encourage patient to do mild to moderate exercises to promote circulation and prevent embolism.

MEDICATION.

• Serve prescribe medication by observing the rights in serving medication.

PREVENTION OF MALARIA.

• By sleeping under well treated mosquito net.• By applying mosquito repellants to the skin• By wearing long pants and long sleeve in the evening

or during sleeping hours.• By not staying outside for too long.• By using insecticide sprays.• By physically killing the mosquitoes.• By covering doors and windows with screens.• By clearing surrounding bushes.

PREVENTION OF MALARIA.

• By draining stagnant waters.• By ensuring proper refuse disposal.• By pouring oil on the surface of stagnant water to

prevent mosquitos from bleeding on it.