Malaria: Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Malaria could be a serious and life threatening disease if not diagnosed and treated properly. Treatment of malaria had been known to general physicians even before the discovery of causative organism, the Plasmodium, a parasite. The parasite of malaria was discovered by Laveran in 1880 and in 1898, Sir Ronald Ross worked out the mosquito cycle with parasite of birds. There are four known species of malarial parasite causing malaria in human beings. These species are Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae. Infection is caused by bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The incubation period for P. vivax and P. ovale is around two weeks, for P. falciparum 8-12 days and for P. malariae incubation period is three to four weeks. The surest way of diagnosing malaria is through microscopic examination of peripheral blood film. Anyone having high grade fever (around 104 to 105^o F) and chills should get tested for malaria. Febrile paroxysm (bout of fever) starts generally in the early afternoon however it may start at any time if mixed infection (infection of two or more malarial parasite species). Malarial parasites of animals (P. berghei of rats and mice, P. knowlesi of monkeys etc) do not infect human beings. Each paroxysm shows a succession of three stages:

1. The cold stage: Lasting 20 minutes to one hour.


2. The hot stage: Lasting one hour to 4 hours.


3. The sweating stage: Lasting 2 to 3 hours.
   

The total duration of the febrile cycle could be from 6 to 10 hours. The febrile cycle may vary with the species of malarial parasite. Malarial parasites are found in all countries extending from 40^o south to 60^o north. The tropical zone is the endemic home of all malarial parasites infecting man. Prevention: Malaria eradication could only be possible through coordinated efforts of the people and the government agencies involved in the control of mosquitoes since malaria is a serious public health problem in all the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. If you go through the pages of the history of science and malaria, you would find that malaria had taken more human lives than any other disease. To control mosquito breeding always keep storage water tanks covered with mosquito tight lids. Larvae eating fish (gambusia or guppy) should be introduced in stagnant water ponds. Insecticides should be sprayed regularly at home, the work place and drains. Use mosquito nets at night and protective clothing during the day time. Consult your physician and take prophylactic medicine if malaria is endemic. Prevention is always better than cure since it saves our money, time and health.

Astronomy: A Heritage Of The Mankind

The Astronomy and astrology had remained fascinating and distinct achievements of the mankind form the time immemorial. Ever since the days of Aryabhata, Indian astronomers been remained in the fore front in the world, who could predict the lunar eclipse as well as the solar eclipse with an accuracy of a few hours. The solar eclipse fair at Kurukshetra (Haryana State, India) has been held from the days of Mahabharta with an accurate prediction of the day of the solar eclipse year after year. The United Nations has declared the year 2009 as the International year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the astronomical use of telescope by Galileo Galilei, the inventor of the telescope. However the history of science for the chance invention of the telescope goes in favor of a Dutch spectacle maker, Hans Lippershey who in 1608, by chance combined a convex and a concave lens and noticed the magnification of the image of an object. Hans Lippershey failed to get his product patented well in time. International Astronomical Union shall be celebrating IAY 2009 throughout the world with its strong team of over 1000 astronomers. There is a great enthusiasm among the astronomers the world over. The event would provide an opportunity to the young astronomers to learn the scientific revelations of the parallel universes. Over 100 nations are probably going to participate in the mega events of the 400^th anniversary of the astronomical use of telescope, the IYA 2009.