• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.159-169
• /
• 2019

Objectives : As for the effect of Polygonum multiflorum on malaria treatment, this study analyzed the characteristics of Herenyin use in Korea and the contents mentioned in major Herbs books of the past. Methods : This study searched, collected and analyzed in the literature and data DB including the contents in herbs books on the treatment of malaria with Polygonum multiflorum, and the contents of various medical books about Herenyin used in Korea, etc. Results :Since Ming and Qing dynasties, Polygonum multiflorum was used mainly for patients with malaria, whose vitality gets weakened with time. Such effects are described in numerous Herbs books. Herenyin, consisting of major medicinal materials of Polygonum multiflorum and ginseng, was also frequently used in malaria treatment in Korea in late Joseon, rather than in China since it was listed in "Jingyuequanshu". Conclusions : Based on the mechanism studies of Polygonum multiflorum with malaria treatment effects and the study of malaria treatment medication including Polygonum multiflorum, it is hoped that the development of new therapies for complete eradication of malaria will be made in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.4
• /
• pp.295-299
• /
• 2022

Malaria elimination and control require prompt and accurate diagnosis for treatment plan. Since microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT) are not sensitive particularly for diagnosing low parasitemia, highly sensitive diagnostic tools are required for accurate treatment. Molecular diagnosis of malaria is commonly carried out by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 18S rRNA gene, while this technique involves long turnaround time and multiple steps leading to false positive results. To overcome these drawbacks, we compared highly sensitive cytochrome oxidase gene-based single-step multiplex reaction with 18S rRNA nested PCR. Cytochrome oxidase (cox) genes of P. falciparum (cox-III) and P. vivax (cox-I) were compared with 18S rRNA gene nested PCR and microscopy. Cox gene multiplex PCR was found to be highly specific and sensitive, enhancing the detection limit of mixed infections. Cox gene multiplex PCR showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97%. This approach can be used as an alternative diagnostic method as it offers higher diagnostic performance and is amenable to high throughput scaling up for a larger sample size at low cost.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.6
• /
• pp.595-605
• /
• 2021

An understanding of the knowledges, attitudes and perceptions of different populations is key for public health policy makers. Here, a survey was performed on knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about malaria diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment. The 407 survey participants included both uninfected inhabitants and patients from 2 cities (Gimpo- and Paju-si) of Northern Gyeonggi-do, known as high-risk areas for vivax malaria. We used community-based study design and non-probability sampling method using the primary data. Association between variables were tested using χ²-tests. In general, the information on malaria reported by the participants in this study was unsystematic and included inaccurate details. The knowledge of malaria symptoms, identified as headache, chills and fever, was high, but the surveyed community lacks knowledge of the specific medications used for malaria treatment, with a large number of respondents having no knowledge of any form of medication. Survey questions with high correct answer rates included questions about easy treatment of malaria in Korea, the high daytime activity of malaria-borne mosquitoes, and the infection risk posed by outdoor activities. However, a large portion of the respondents was unable to provide simple medical and biological information about the disease. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practical behavior of the surveyed community with respect to malaria and the implications reported here could be applicable to other malaria endemic areas in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.175-177
• /
• 2010

Mixed infections of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax is high (~ 30%) in some malaria hypoendemic areas where the patients present with P. falciparum malaria diagnosed by microscopy. Conventional treatment of P. falciparum with concurrent chloroquine and 14 days of primaquine for all falciparum malaria patients may be useful in areas where mixed falciparum and vivax infections are high and common and also with mild or moderate G6PD deficiency in the population even with or without subpatent vivax mixed infection. It will be possibly cost-effective to reduce subsequent vivax illness if the patients have mixed vivax infection. Further study to prove this hypothesis may be warranted.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.2 s.142
• /
• pp.111-114
• /
• 2007

Chloroquine remains the drug of choice for the treatment of vivax malaria in Thailand. Mixed infections of falciparum and vivax malaria are also common in South-East Asia. Laboratory confirmation of malaria species is not generally available. This study aimed to find alternative regimens for treating both malaria species by using falciparum antimalarial drugs. From June 2004 to May 2005, 98 patients with Plasmodium vivax were randomly treated with either artemether-lumefantrine (n = 47) or chloroquine (n = 51). Both treatments were followed by 15 mg of primaquine over 14 days. Adverse events and clinical and parasitological outcomes were recorded and revealed similar in both groups. The cure rate was 97.4% for the artemether-lumefantrine treated group and 100% for the chloroquine treated group. We concluded that the combination of artemether-lumefantrine and primaquine was well tolerated, as effective as chloroquine and primaquine, and can be an alternative regimen for treatment of vivax malaria especially in the event that a mixed infection of falciparum and vivax malaria could not be ruled out.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.301-306
• /
• 2001

A total of 827 malaria cases were reported in the Gangwon-do in the year 2000. There were 18.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. There were 283 cases among civilians and 544 cases among the military. 90.6% of cases were reported in Cheorwon-(531), Hwacheon- (152), and Goseong- (66) gun (county), which bordered the demilitarized zone (DMZ). A distinct feature pertaining to the malaria cases in Gangwon-do is that the number of cases has increased about two times over the last year. The mean time from the beginning of symptoms to malaria diagnosis was five days. Control systems for malaria by public health organizations and military organizations are well maintained , but were not able to reduce the malaria prevalence rate. The cause for the increase in pattern of the malaria cases in Gangwon-do may be caused by the spreading of prevalent areas of malaria to the east. Continuous endeavor such as early detection of cases, early treatment, education on clinical symptoms and prevention of mosquito bites with repellent and mosquito nets will help to reduce the infection rate of malaria in Gangwon-do.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.85-103
• /
• 2013

Objectives : I would find out the developmental succession and results of Li Ting(李梴)'s research for hakgil(malaria, 瘧疾) reflected in Euhakibmun(醫學入門). Methods : I had searched from which books the original contents of Euhakibmun(醫學入門) came, in aspects of classification, causes, mechanism, symptoms, differentiation and medical treatments of malaria. Results : Lee Cheon(李梴) classified causes of malaria from the viewpoint of Yin and Yang, and made its medical treatment modalities definite. He used its prescriptions rationally and analytically according to the classification of malaria which he suggested. Conclusion : Lee Cheon(李梴)'s studies on malaria(瘧疾) in Euhakibmun(醫學入門) were very creative and special unlike existing assessment known in Korean medicine academic world.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.213-218
• /
• 2013

Malaria is a parasitic infection caused by Plasmodium species. Most of the imported malaria in Korea are due to Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, and Plasmodium ovale infections are very rare. Here, we report a case of a 24-year-old American woman who acquired P. ovale while staying in Ghana, West Africa for 5 months in 2010. The patient was diagnosed with P. ovale malaria based on a Wright-Giemsa stained peripheral blood smear, Plasmodium genus-specific real-time PCR, Plasmodium species-specific nested PCR, and sequencing targeting 18S rRNA gene. The strain identified had a very long incubation period of 19-24 months. Blood donors who have malaria with a very long incubation period could be a potential danger for propagating malaria. Therefore, we should identify imported P. ovale infections not only by morphological findings but also by molecular methods for preventing propagation and appropriate treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.365-371
• /
• 2011

In Nigeria, malaria causes up to 11% of maternal mortality. Our main aim was to find out the most common mosquito control measures employed by the pregnant women in Lagos and their effects on malaria infection. The study was carried out over a period of 6 months during which trained interviewers administered questionnaires to 400 pregnant women. The prevalence of malaria was 8.4%. There was no significant association between the prevalence of malaria and age, level of education, or occupation of the participants. Pregnant women in the age range 26-30 had the mean parasite density ($409.9{\pm}196.80$). Insecticide spray (32.8%), mosquito coil (27.5%), and insecticide-treated nets (ITN) (15.5%) were the major mosquito control measures employed by the participants while the prevalence of infection among them were 2.3%, 6.2%, and 3.2%, respectively (P<0.05). Only 18.3% of the women had taken more than one dose of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT), while another 11.8% had taken a single dose. The infection rate among them was 4.1% and 6.4%, respectively. Malaria prevalence was highest among those who had not received any dose of IPT (10%). This study showed that the use of ITN and IPT among the pregnant women were still unacceptably low. It also showed that the use of insecticide spray which was the most common malaria control measure adopted by the participants was effective despite the fact that it is not a National Malaria Control Policy. We recommend that a sustained integrated mosquito man-agement and public education should be strengthened in Nigeria.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.465-472
• /
• 2017

Recent trends of malaria in Thailand illustrate an increasing proportion of Plasmodium vivax, indicating the importance of P. vivax as a major causative agent of malaria. P. vivax malaria is usually considered a benign disease so the knowledge of this parasite has been limited, especially the genetic diversity and genetic structure of isolates from different endemic areas. The aim of this study was to examine the population genetics and structure of P. vivax isolates from 4 provinces with different malaria endemic settings in Thailand using 6 microsatellite markers. Total 234 blood samples from P. vivax mono-infected patients were collected. Strong genetic diversity was observed across all study sites; the expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.5871 to 0.9033. Genetic variability in this study divided P. vivax population into 3 clusters; first was P. vivax isolates from Mae Hong Son and Kanchanaburi Provinces located on the western part of Thailand; second, Yala isolates from the south; and third, Chanthaburi isolates from the east. P. vivax isolates from patients having parasite clearance time (PCT) longer than 24 hr after the first dose of chloroquine treatment had higher diversity when compared with those having PCT within 24 hr. This study revealed a clear evidence of different population structure of P. vivax from different malaria endemic areas of Thailand. The findings provide beneficial information to malaria control programme as it is a useful tool to track the source of infections and current malaria control efforts.