By Oluwadmilare Adeniyi

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Medical practitioners have warned people with genotype AA to be more careful and protect themselves against malaria parasite, saying they are more susceptible to the parasite than other genotype carriers.
They disclosed that the high rate of hemoglobin (The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells) and oxygen consumption in the genotype AA helps the malaria parasite(falciparum malaria)to evolve easily and the resulting fever could lead to several ailments, including death.
A medical practitioner at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Dr. Tola Abidokun said that malaria parasites have a high rate of oxygen consumption and ingest large amounts of hemoglobin during the auxiliary blood stage of replication.
He explained that this makes the AA blood more accomodating and the malaria parasite thrives better in it.
Also, Dr. Ogundipe Olamide of Ibadan Central Hospital, confirmed that those, who are homozygous dominant (AA) produce normal red blood cells, which makes them more vulnerable to malaria.
She explained further that Genotype AA has a more conducive and comfortable area to help malaria grow and give more strength to the organism in the body.
She cited that in the World Press Research on malaria where children were screened for malaria parasitemia -falciparum malaria, blood group, hemoglobin genotypes Children with genotype AA (92.3%) were more susceptible to Malaria Parasite than AS (5.1%) and SS (2.6%).
“It is easier for the genotype AA to be affected than another genotype because genotypes like SS, SC have a faulty gene that persists and has a little amount of hemoglobin, and even carrying one copy of a faulty gene confers some resistance to malaria.
“These include loss of the normal discoid shape, increased rigidity of the membrane, elevated permeability to a wide variety of ionic and other species, and increased adhesiveness which may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells.
“If not promptly treated, the infection can become severe and may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma and death,” she said.
She also added that malaria can be prevented mainly by avoiding mosquito bites, adding that “if they cannot do that, they should make sure their doors and windows are close properly. If you are not sleeping in an air-conditioned room, sleep under an intact mosquito net that is been treated with insecticide. Use insect repellent on your skin and in sleeping environments.
“Remember to reapply it frequently and also by, Wearing light, loose-fitting trousers rather than shorts, and wear shirts with long sleeves. This is particularly important during the early evening and at night, when mosquitoes prefer to feed.”
While stating that brain and the lungs are the most affected organs in severe malaria cases, aother health specialist, Dr. Modupe Akingbesote in the United States of America added Malaria fever could result in anemia, jaundice, mental confusion, kidney failure, seizures and even death, if not treated.