Rapid Malaria Antigen

The malaria antigen test is used for the diagnosis as well as detection of malaria in individuals. This test requires blood samples from patients who might have few of the symptoms of malaria. The malaria antigen test results can also be obtained faster than most other tests. Malaria is an infectious disease that is brought about by Plasmodium parasites. Female Anopheles mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of these parasites. Four main types of Plasmodium species are known to infect humans, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malaria . After the mosquito bites a human, the parasites gain entry into the bloodstream from where they travel to the liver. The incubation period for malaria is generally 7 to 30 days. The malarial parasites enter inside the red blood cells after the incubation period and bring about their lysis within 48 to 72 hours, leading to malaria symptoms. Few species of Plasmodium are capable of remaining dormant in the liver and can re-enter the bloodstream months or years from the initial infection. The malaria antigens can only be detected when the parasites enter the red blood cells after their incubation in the liver. A few of the common symptoms of malaria are fever, headache, chills, sweat, malaise and body pain. Few people develop gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Doctors prescribe malaria antigen tests looking at these symptoms. The symptoms begin to appear after the parasites leave the liver and enter into the bloodstream, where they multiply. Plasmodium falciparum is capable of causing severe malaria that can be life-threatening. The incidence of malaria is very common in India. India accounts for 3 per cent of malaria cases and deaths of the world and 85.2 per cent of Southeast Asia cases. India has been successful in reducing malaria cases by 17.6 per cent in 2019 as compared to 2018. Although India has been implementing effective malaria control, the incidence of malaria is still quite high. Stricter guidelines and control methods need to be implemented to make India malaria-free.