A Treat for Mosquitoes Class 5 Notes EVS Chapter 8

In chapter "A Treat for Mosquitoes," it discusses the dangers of mosquitoes, which are tiny insects commonly found in people's homes. Despite their small size, mosquitoes can be deadly as they can spread serious diseases like malaria and dengue fever, which can lead to death. various topics related to mosquitoes, such as blood tests, anemia, and mosquito prevention measures. 

1. Blood Test

• Rajat returns to school after being absent for many days due to illness.
• Aarti asks Rajat how he's feeling, to which he softly replies that he's alright.
• Jaskirat assumes Rajat must have played a lot while at home, but Rajat explains he didn't because of his fever and having to take bitter medicine.
• Rajat mentions having a blood test which helped diagnose his malaria.
• He describes the blood test as feeling like an ant bite when the needle pricked his finger, and only a few drops of blood were taken for testing.

• Nancy questions how they could diagnose malaria through a blood test, and Rajat explains that malaria can be detected through such tests.
• Nancy clarifies that not every mosquito bite causes malaria, and it only spreads through disease-carrying mosquitoes.
• Aarti admits all mosquitoes look the same to her, and Rajat suggests there must be some differences.
• Nancy asks if the blood was taken from where the mosquito bit, but Rajat explains it wasn't possible to know when or where the mosquito bit him.
• Nancy questions how they diagnosed malaria through the blood test, wondering if anything specific was seen in the blood.
• Medicine for malaria made from the dried and powdered bark of the Cinchona tree, historically used for this purpose.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by the bite of an infectious Female Anopheles Mosquito. The organism which is responsible for causing malaria is a protozoan parasite named Plasmodium.
A malarial patient shows the following symptoms.

• Fever
• Shaking chills
• The general feeling of discomfort
• Headache and Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle or joint pain

How do you know if you have Malaria?

How to protect ourselves from Malaria.

• Make sure there's no stagnant water around your home.
• Fill up any holes or pits nearby.
• Keep water containers clean and dry them every week.
• Put fish in ponds to eat mosquito larvae.
• Spray kerosene on standing water to stop mosquito eggs from hatching.
• Use mosquito nets while sleeping.
• Use mosquito repellents like creams, coils, or liquids to avoid mosquito bites.

2. Anemia- What's that? 

• Aarti had a blood test which revealed she had anaemia, a condition characterized by low levels of haemoglobin or iron in the blood.

• To treat her anaemia, the doctor prescribed medicines to boost her strength and advised her to consume foods rich in iron such as jaggery, amla, and green leafy vegetables.
• The minimum required haemoglobin level is not mentioned in the conversation.
• After following the doctor's advice and consuming iron-rich foods, Aarti's haemoglobin levels increased.
• The newspaper report discusses the problems caused by anaemia, although specific details are not provided in the conversation.
• Anaemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and pale skin due to the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
• Some individuals in the conversation have undergone blood tests. Aarti had hers due to symptoms of anaemia, but specific results are not disclosed.

What is Anaemia?

Symptoms of Anaemia

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Irregular heartbeats
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Headaches

How anaemia is cured?

3. Baby mosquitoes

Nancy and her friends were talking about a poster they saw on malaria. They learned that larvae are baby mosquitoes, which don't look like mosquitoes at all. Nancy saw some larvae in an old pot filled with water behind her house, and she learned from her mom that mosquitoes lay eggs in water and these larvae hatch from them. 

• They also discussed how flies can spread diseases like stomach problems, even though they don't bite like mosquitoes. Nancy's dad immediately cleaned the pot and kept it upside down to prevent water from collecting, while Jaskirat mentioned that flies can spread diseases too.
• Nancy, Aarti, Rajat, and Jaskirat were talking about larvae and mosquitoes. Nancy explained that larvae are baby mosquitoes that look different from adult mosquitoes. She found them in a pot of water behind her house. Her mom told her that mosquitoes lay eggs in water, and larvae hatch from those eggs. 
• Nancy's dad cleaned the pot and kept it upside down to prevent water from collecting, which stops mosquitoes from breeding there. Jaskirat mentioned that flies can also spread diseases, even though they don't bite like mosquitoes. Shazia aunty told him that flies can spread diseases, especially stomach problems, possibly through contact with contaminated food or surfaces.

4. Survey Reports

Some children did this survey and there were two reports generated by 2 groups
Report 1 summary:  Algae, a type of plant, was discovered around the taps at the school, making the area slippery. The presence of algae is attributed to its proliferation during the rainy season. It is perceived as small waterborne plants.

Report 2 summary: Near the school, there's a pond obscured by thick plant growth, making the water invisible. These plants are said to have grown naturally in the water. Surrounding the pond are water-filled pits, where larvae were observed. Movement around the area caused many mosquitoes to emerge from the plants. Jaskirat associates the high mosquito population in her house with the presence of this stagnant, plant-covered pond nearby.

Summary

"A Treat for Mosquitoes" is an educational piece discussing the impact of mosquitoes on human health, particularly focusing on diseases like malaria and dengue fever. It covers topics such as blood tests, malaria symptoms and treatment, anaemia, diseases caused by houseflies, prevention of malaria, mosquito larvae, algae, and the historical discovery of malaria transmission by mosquitoes by Ronald Ross.

Key Points Learned

• Mosquitoes pose serious health risks by transmitting diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
• Blood tests are essential for diagnosing various diseases and conditions.
• Malaria symptoms include fever, chills, muscle pains, and fatigue, with treatment historically involving the use of cinchona bark.
• Anaemia, characterized by low red blood cell count, affects many children, particularly in Delhi.
• Houseflies can transmit numerous diseases, emphasizing the importance of sanitation.
• Preventive measures against malaria include eliminating stagnant water and using mosquito nets.
• Mosquito larvae play a crucial role in the mosquito life cycle.
• Algae are diverse photosynthetic organisms found in various aquatic environments.
• Ronald Ross's discovery of malaria transmission by mosquitoes led to significant advancements in disease understanding and control.

Conclusion

This chapter underscores the importance of understanding mosquitoes and their role in disease transmission for public health. It highlights the significance of preventive measures, early diagnosis, and research in combating mosquito-borne illnesses. Ronald Ross's groundbreaking discovery serves as a testament to the power of scientific inquiry in addressing global health challenges.