Malaria causes anaemia because the parasites destroy the blood cells in charge of taking oxygen to every organ of the body. Resistance to medicines favours anaemia. The most vulnerable are children under 5 years and women.  

Risk factors that favour severe anaemia 

  • Recurrent infections 
  • Bad nutrition with multiple micronutrient deficiencies  
  • Low weight and rickets 
  • Coinfections of HIV, bacteraemia and intestinal worms, which impair iron metabolism 
  • Genetic alterations 

Consequences 

Imbalance in the immune response and the person can die 

What can a person with anaemia feel?

A person with iron deficiency will feel very tired and will have difficulty breathing, studying, working, taking care of the family, self-care and depression will also be a consequence. 

How to treat anaemia?

The OMS recommends making a test to measure the haemoglobin at the time of taking the diagnostic test, to see if the person has anaemia. Mild anaemia can progress to severe if untreated. The directions of each country and the local health personnel must be followed as they will vary according to severity, age or if the woman is pregnant.  

To recover and have an effective immune response against recurrent malaria infections and other infectious disease, the immunological system must be strengthened, must recover acceptable iron levels in blood, and the person must have a healthy nutrition and life style steadily, to favour physical and mental health.  

  • Micronutrients: iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin C
  • Oral and intravenous fluids as the anaemia causes dehydration 
  • oxygen
  • analgesics
  • antibiotics 
  • iron sulphate 
  • blood transfusion (risk of contracting HIV)
  • limit: dairy, very fatty meats, cakes, alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated drinks 
  • relieve coinfections such as eliminate intestinal parasites and treatment against HIV
  • food that helps recover from weakness:

cereals: wheat

vegetables and greens: alfalfa, potatoes, legumes 

fruit: figs, plums, dates, dry fruits, guava, pineapple, papaya, strawberries, melon, citrous    

fats: olive oil, butter, margarine

proteins: non fatty meats, fish, liver, eggs