Malaria

Malaria is a sickness caused by tiny organisms called parasites. These parasites are passed from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes. When someone gets malaria, they often feel very ill, with a high temperature and shivering.

Although malaria isn't a common problem in places with cooler weather, it's still a significant health issue in warm, tropical and subtropical regions. Around 290 million people get infected with malaria each year, and sadly, more than 400,000 people die from it.

To help stop the spread of malaria, health organizations around the world give out medicine to prevent it and mosquito nets treated with insecticide. These help keep people safe from mosquito bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends a vaccine for children living in areas where malaria is very common.

To protect yourself if you travel to an area where malaria is a concern, you can take precautions. Wearing long sleeves and pants, using mosquito nets, and using insect repellent can help. You can also take special medicine to prevent malaria before, during, and after your trip. Unfortunately, some types of malaria parasites have become resistant to the medicines usually used to treat them. This means the medicines may not always work as well as they used to.

Malaria can cause a range of symptoms. These symptoms often appear a few weeks after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, though in some cases, the parasites can stay inactive in the body for up to a year.

Common signs of malaria include:

• Fever: This is a high body temperature.
• Chills: Feeling cold and shivering.
• Uncomfortable feeling: A general sense of being unwell.
• Headache: A pain in the head.
• Nausea and vomiting: Feeling sick to your stomach and then throwing up.
• Diarrhea: Frequent bowel movements.
• Stomach pain: Discomfort in the abdomen.
• Muscle or joint pain: Pain in the muscles and joints.
• Tiredness (Fatigue): Feeling very weak and lacking energy.
• Fast breathing: Breathing more quickly than usual.
• Fast heartbeat: A faster than normal pulse.
• Cough: A persistent irritation of the throat and chest, causing coughing.

Sometimes, malaria causes "attacks." These attacks follow a pattern: First, you might shiver and feel cold, then your temperature rises dramatically, and finally, you sweat a lot as your body temperature returns to normal. This cycle can repeat itself.

It's crucial to remember that these symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses. If you think you might have malaria, it's essential to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

If you've been in a place with a high chance of malaria, or if you've recently traveled there, see a doctor if you get a fever. This is important because malaria can be serious. If you have very bad symptoms, like a high fever, shaking chills, or other concerning issues, go to the emergency room right away. Don't delay getting medical help if you think you might have malaria.

Malaria is a disease caused by tiny organisms called parasites. These parasites belong to a group called Plasmodium. Most often, people get malaria when a mosquito carrying the parasite bites them.

Malaria is most likely to affect people who live in or travel to places where it's common. These places are mostly in warm parts of the world, including:

• Sub-Saharan Africa: A large part of Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
• South and Southeast Asia: Countries like India, parts of China, and countries in Southeast Asia.
• Pacific Islands: Many islands in the Pacific Ocean.
• Central and northern South America: Countries like Brazil, Colombia, and parts of Mexico.

How much risk you face depends on how well the local communities are controlling malaria, how the disease rates change with the seasons, and how careful you are about protecting yourself from mosquito bites. For example, if a region has good malaria control programs and you use mosquito repellent, your risk is lower. Conversely, if a region has a lot of cases and you don't take precautions, your risk is higher.

Malaria is a serious illness that can be deadly, especially in parts of Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that almost all malaria deaths happen in Africa, often affecting children under five years old.

Malaria's dangerous effects usually come from problems it causes in the body. These problems can include:

• Brain Swelling (Cerebral Malaria): Malaria parasites can clog tiny blood vessels in the brain. This can cause the brain to swell and become damaged. Symptoms can include seizures and a coma.

• Trouble Breathing: Malaria can cause fluid to build up in the lungs (pulmonary edema), making it hard to breathe. This can be a life-threatening complication.

• Organ Damage: Malaria can harm the kidneys, liver, or spleen. Damage to any of these organs can be very serious and even deadly. A ruptured spleen, for example, is a significant concern.

• Low Red Blood Cell Count (Anemia): Malaria can cause your body to not have enough healthy red blood cells. This means your body doesn't get enough oxygen, which is a serious problem. This is called anemia.

• Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia): Severe malaria can cause blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low (hypoglycemia). This can happen even with medication, like quinine, used to treat malaria. Very low blood sugar can lead to coma or death.

Basically, malaria can cause a wide range of serious complications that affect many parts of the body. These complications are often what make malaria so dangerous.

If you're visiting or living in a place where malaria is common, it's important to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are most active during the hours around sunset and sunrise. Here's how to protect yourself:

1. Cover Up: To keep mosquitoes away, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Make sure your shirt is tucked in and your pants are tucked into your socks. This creates a barrier between your skin and the mosquitoes.

2. Use Repellent on Your Skin: Use a mosquito repellent that's been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for repellents containing ingredients like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Apply the repellent to any skin that's not covered by clothing. It's crucial not to spray repellent directly onto your face. And importantly, don't use repellents with oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or p-Menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) on babies or children under 3 years old.

3. Protect Your Clothes: You can also treat your clothing with a repellent spray containing permethrin. This helps keep mosquitoes away from your clothes and skin.

4. Sleep Under a Net: A mosquito net, especially one treated with insecticides like permethrin, is a great way to prevent mosquito bites while you sleep. This is a very effective way to protect yourself overnight.

These steps can significantly reduce your risk of mosquito bites and, in turn, the risk of getting malaria. Remember to always follow the instructions on the repellent product label for proper use and safety.

To figure out if you have malaria, your doctor will usually:

1. Ask about your health history and recent trips.
2. Give you a physical exam.
3. Order blood tests.

These blood tests help find out:

• If the malaria parasite is in your blood. This confirms if you actually have malaria.
• What kind of malaria parasite it is. Different types of malaria parasites can cause different symptoms.
• If the parasite is resistant to certain medicines. This is important because some malaria parasites are resistant to some malaria drugs. Knowing this helps your doctor choose the right treatment.
• If the malaria has caused any serious problems. Sometimes, malaria can lead to other health issues. These tests help your doctor check for these problems.

Some blood tests can give results quickly, in less than 15 minutes. Others may take several days. Your doctor might order more tests if your symptoms suggest there could be complications.

Malaria is treated with medicine to kill the tiny organisms that cause the disease. The best medicine and how long you need to take it depend on several things:

• What kind of malaria you have: Different types of malaria parasites respond to different drugs.
• How bad your symptoms are: More severe illness might need a longer or stronger treatment.
• Your age: Doctors may adjust the medicine based on a person's age.
• If you're pregnant: Special care is needed during pregnancy when choosing malaria treatment.

The most common malaria medicines include:

• Chloroquine phosphate: This is a good choice if the parasite is sensitive to it. Unfortunately, in many places, the parasites have become resistant to chloroquine, meaning it doesn't work as well anymore.

• Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs): These are combinations of different medicines. They work in different ways to fight the malaria parasite. This is usually the best option if the malaria is resistant to chloroquine. Some examples of ACTs include:

  • Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem): A common combination drug.
  • Artesunate-mefloquine: Another combination drug used for malaria treatment.

Other common malaria medicines include:

• Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone): This is another medicine used to treat malaria.
• Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) with doxycycline (Oracea, Vibramycin, others): This combination is sometimes used, especially for more severe cases.
• Primaquine phosphate: This medicine is sometimes used to help prevent malaria from coming back.

It's crucial to remember that this information is for general knowledge only. Always talk to a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional to get the correct diagnosis and treatment plan for malaria. They can determine the best medicine and dosage for your specific situation.