''Fever'' and ''Malaria'':2 Words Most Africans and Cameroonians in Particular Use Wrongly
Malaria has been one of the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Its most common symptoms include fever, headaches, and joint pains. It is common to hear persons say ''I am sick of fever'' when what they actually intended to say was '' I am sick of malaria '' Fever is not a disease, it is simply a symptom of my diseases( parasitic, bacterial, fungal or viral). The body actually uses FEVER (febrile response) as a defense mechanism, when trying to fight invading pathogens(germs). Fever also known as pyrexia can be technically defined as any body temperature >37.2°C. Fever may or may not be accompanied with shivering or chills. One of the main causes of fever in Africa is malaria. Malaria is a disease caused by the Parasite called Plasmodium . It is transmitted through bites from an infected female anopheles mosquito. In Cameroon, many persons in the communities use the Words '' Fever '' and '' Malaria '' to...