1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Tropical Diseases

February 17, 2022

In this edition of In Good Shape we take a look at malaria and neglected tropical diseases. We hear what deep muscles have to do with back pain. And: We show you how to cut back on excessive smartphone use.

https://p.dw.com/p/47B1n
DW In Good Shape Sendungslogo
Kenia | Impfung gegen Malaria
Image: Joseph Oduor/AP Photo/picture alliance

Malaria vaccine

Malaria is one of the leading causes of infant mortality in Africa. The WHO recently approved what it calls a 'historic' malaria vaccine. It showed a reduction of 30 percent in deadly severe malaria.

 

WHO I Malaria I Mosquito I Mücke
Image: Robin Loznak/ZUMA/picture alliance

The Malaria Parasite

Infected anopheles mosquitoes carry plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria. After a bite they multiply in a mammal’s liver then enter the bloodstream. They coagulate red blood cells,  blocking blood vessels and causing organ failure.

 

In Good Shape | Vernachlässigte Tropenkrankheiten
Image: DW

Neglected Tropical Diseases

The WHO categorizes nearly 20 diseases as 'neglected': Affecting about 1.7 million people, they generally afflict the world's poor and historically have not received as much attention as other diseases.

 

Frühwarnsystem bei Mediensucht
Image: Weronika Peneshko/dpa/picture-alliance

Dealing with Smartphone Addiction

'Friends' in social networks, a deluge of distracting information and encouraging likes and commentaries: smartphones are as riveting as slot machines and can be just as addictive. Young people are especially vulnerable.

 

In Good Shape | Iliosakralgelenk
Image: Colourbox

Back Pain and the Deeper Muscles

If back pain doesn't respond to physiotherapy, exercise or pain medication, it might be coming from the deeper lying, smaller muscles. They tend to be overlooked during exercise. There are ways though of activating these  muscles.

 

In Good Shape | Aurelia Damann
Image: DW

Strengthening the Stomach and Back

Fitness trainer Aurelia demonstrates an exercise that strengthens the stomach and back muscles.

 

 

 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

SAT 19.02.2022 – 09:30 UTC
SUN 20.02.2022 – 00:02 UTC
SUN 20.02.2022 – 05:02 UTC
MON 21.02.2022 – 02:30 UTC
WED 23.02.2022 – 06:30 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 I Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 I Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +0 | Berlin UTC +1 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4

 

DW Deutsch+

SAT 19.02.2022 – 09:30 UTC

Vancouver UTC -8 | New York UTC -5 | Sao Paulo UTC -3