Malaria is a parasitic infection which is transferred to humans by mosquitoes which are the carriers of the disease. The parasite causing Malaria is ‘Plasmodium’ (P.falciparum, P.ovale, P.vivax, P.malariae, and P.knowlesi) and though many strains of this parasite are found, only a few mentioned above are known to cause Malaria. The mosquito which transmits Malaria to humans is a female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito usually bites at dusk or night hours hence care should be taken to avoid mosquito bites during those hours.
How malaria is transmitted ?
When an uninfected mosquito bites a Malaria infected person, it acquires the parasite from the blood. This mosquito on biting another healthy individual, transmits the parasite into the blood stream which is then transported to the liver. The parasite can lie dormant there or start maturing, they can then travel back into the blood stream and infect the red blood cells. This is the stage when the individual gets affected with Malaria. If an uninfected mosquito bites the infected individual and then an uninfected individual, it can cause spread of Malaria. Malaria can also spread from mother to her fetus, during blood transfusions and by using infected and used needles.
What are the symptoms of malaria ?
The symptoms of Malaria are same through all age groups it affects, but the severity of the infection is more in young children, pregnant women and individuals who travel from places where Malaria is non-prevalent to places where it is prevalent.
The common symptoms are mentioned below.
- High fever
- Chills
- Weakness and malaise
- Sweating at night
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Stomach ache
Severe symptoms and complications may include the following.
- Malarial parasite affecting the brain: Cerebral Malaria
- Respiratory distress and breathing problems
- Multiple organ failure
- Anemia
- Low blood sugar
- Coma
- Death
How is malaria diagnosed ?
Malaria is diagnosed by a detailed clinical examination and a battery of investigations like blood test, blood culture, liver function test and kidney function test. The blood culture helps in determining the strain of parasite to decide on the correct treatment.
How is malaria treated ?
The treatment of Malaria is dependent on the type of Malarial parasite, your symptoms, and your age. A few antimalarial drugs are regularly and effectively used for the treatment of Malaria, you can ask your treating doctor about the same in detail.
Why awareness of malaria amongst general population is necessary ?
Malaria is a disease which can spread like an epidemic if preventive measures are not taken seriously. One can be aware of the basics about the infection and how to prevent it by keeping the surroundings clean, avoiding stagnation of water, use mosquito nets and mosquito repellent lotions and sprays. If you’re travelling to a country where Malaria is prevalent you should consult your physician about the preventive measures in detail. 25th April is specifically designated as World Malaria Day to lay emphasis on the prevention of the disease and aims at reducing its global incidence.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
