Little by little, the “scientific” mists that accompany what has been defined as “Congo disease”. An unknown picture, which also requires finding a possible person responsible. But be careful. At the moment there are no clear reports indicating the identikit of a virus, a bacterium or a parasite causing the respiratory symptoms and anemia.
And then, based on the first data, we need to rely on what comes from the epicenter of the infection. In the absence of certainty about the causes, some data arrives from the Panzi area. About 80% of the samples of patients would be positive for malaria. And if it is true that this parasitic pathology could help explain the anemia characteristics of this “unknown disease”, it is equally undeniable that malaria does not cause respiratory symptoms. So, once again, other hypotheses emerge, also linked to the possible spread of a respiratory viral strain which in some way worsens a situation of fragility linked to malnutrition, social poverty And poor access to suitable health services. We are always in the world of hypotheses. But the spread of malaria is a fact. So, let’s try to understand what it is.
What is malaria and what causes it
Malaria is a parasitic disease. It is transmitted following the bite of the female mosquito of the genus Anopheleswhich injects the parasite responsible for the disease into humans. There are different types of plasmodia (this is what these strains are called), with more or less serious clinical pictures. Most frequently responsible for the disease are the Plasmodium malariae and, above all, the Plasmodium falciparumresponsible for the most serious forms. The Plasmodium falciparum it is the most aggressive parasite and is unfortunately widespread in sub-Saharan areas. It is transmitted to humans before it has fully developed through a mosquito bite and then manages to hide from the defense system to conclude its growth process. Once its development is complete, the parasite begins its activity, which is concentrated mainly within the liver and red blood cells. It is in this phase that the first typical symptoms of the disease appear, with pictures that initially resemble those of a bad flu.
What are the symptoms of malaria
The symptoms follow the rhythm of the “rekindlings” of the plasmodium, therefore manifesting themselves at fixed intervals, when the distribution of the parasite is maximum. Chills, high fever, sweating, anemia And enlargement of the spleen they repeat with intervals of 48-72 hours, precisely at the moment in which the red blood cells are destroyed en masse by the plasmodia ready to invade others. Continuous fevers, if malaria is not recognized, can even lead to death of the patient, particularly when the infection is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. In fact, this parasite can give rise to cerebral malaria, fatal especially in childrenor “black water fever”, characterized by the loss of large quantities of hemoglobin, the substance that transports oxygen in red blood cells, which makes the urine dark.
Because malaria causes anemia
Once the passage phases necessary for the complete maturation of the parasite have passed, the plasmodium seeks and finds its target inside the body: the red blood cell. In fact, at the same time, the parasites invade many red blood cells, reproducing in them until they are destroyed. For this reason, in its most serious and rapid forms, malaria can also be fatal as it destroys a high number of red blood cells, resulting in very strong anemiaor blocks the blood supply to the brain or other organs by creating prolonged ischemia. Generally, the symptoms of malaria appear cyclically following the same rhythm of reproduction and multiplication of the parasite. In some cases, however, the Plasmodium falciparumif not treated, can cause the disease to degenerate rapidly without giving the classic cyclical symptoms.
