Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by an infected mosquito with a parasite, a bite of an infected mosquito, that harms both humans and animals. Malaria can become fatal, sometimes in hot areas like Africa. 

When infected mosquito bites, parasites invade the bloodstream of animals. Malaria is a parasitic disease not caused by bacteria or viruses. If proper treatment is not provided, then serious help problems can be evolved. Like seizures, brain damage, organ failure, and in some cases death of the person.

Anyone can get infected by malaria, but people who live in high temperatures like in Africa at high risk of infection. Young children, old age person, and pregnant women have a high chance of getting the infection and which is fatal for them. All over the world, 90% of the mortality rate is in Africa. Most of the person die due to malaria are younger children. 

How common is Malaria?

Malaria is a very common infectious disease. It happens most often in high temperatures and highly humid environments. Like Africa, Eastern Europe, South, and Southeast Asia, and Islands in the south and central Pacific Ocean. 

Causes of Malaria

Malaria is not spread from one infected person to another. Malaria is caused by the bite of a female mosquito (Anopheles). Four species of parasites can transmit malaria in human-Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. Out of 400 species of Anopheles mosquitoes, around 40 species of Anopheles, are the sole.

Symptoms of Malaria

Symptoms of malaria start a few weeks after being bitten by the infected mosquito. In some cases, it’s seen that the parasite is dormant in the human body for a year. Symptoms of malaria can be mild or severe, depending on the type of parasite. Warning signs of malaria are:

1. Fever
2. Chills
3. Headache
4. Nausea and vomiting
5. Body ache
6. Abdominal Pain
7. Breathing Problems
8. Rapid Heart Rate
9. Cough
10. Fatigue
11. Diarrhea

In some cases, people see a malaria cycle (attack). A malaria cycle starts with chills and shivering continues to high fever, then sweating, and comes back to normal temperature. If malaria gets worse, it can lead to anemia and jaundice.

In some severe cases of malaria, people can also go into a coma, such type of malaria is known as cerebral malaria.

Diagnosis of Malaria

Normally malaria diagnosis is done with the help of travel history, or symptoms, due to the nonspecific nature of the parasite. After the travel history and symptoms, the doctor confirmed by doing a parasitological test. Malaria is confirmed via observing blood samples under the microscope or running an antigen-based rapid diagnostic test.

Treatment of Malaria

It’s very crucial to start the treatment immediately. Distributing antimalarial drugs to individuals to bring down the mortality rate of children. In the market, there are numerous antimalarial drugs prescribed by doctors to treat malaria. In some cases, depending on the parasites, doctors prescribe combinations of different drugs to the patient.

Prevention of Malaria

Malaria as we know caused by the bite of a mosquito by preventing the mosquito bite we can control the mosquito. Getting vaccinated against malaria also help in developing the immune system.

Mosquito Control

• Killing of mosquitos via various methods like biological agents.
• Using mosquito repellant to avoid mosquito bites.
• Destroying their natural habitat to decrease the number of mosquitos.
• Clean the standing water, and decrease the mosquito number.
• Creating awareness among people.

Please Note: These measures and Symptoms may vary and are just to provide educational information about the disease and are not standard practices. We advise you to consult a health care Professional, before trying anything at home.

FAQs on Malaria

Question 1: What is Malaria?

Answer:

Malaria is a parasite, mainly P. falciparum infectious disease that occurred because of the bite of a mosquito.

Question 2: Is Malaria a virus infection?

Answer:

Malaria is not a virus or bacterial infection. It is a parasitic infection caused by the P. Falciparum parasite.

Question 3: Can I get malaria without a mosquito bite?

Answer:

Mostly malaria occurred by the bite of mosquitoes. In a rare case, malaria is caused by the infected blood transfusion or transfer to fetus from placenta of the infected mother.

Question 4: What are the symptoms of Malaria?

Answer:

The following are the symptoms of malaria:

1. High fever and chills
2. Body aches
3. Vomiting
4. Breathing problems