Introduction:
Parasites that enter your body through the bite of an infected mosquito are what causes malaria. In hot, muggy locations like Africa, this ailment that can be lethal occasionally occurs.
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| What is Malaria? |
OVERVIEW
What is Malaria?
When a mosquito bites you, it transmits the deadly parasitic disease known as malaria. The mosquito injects malaria parasites into your bloodstream when it bites you. Not a virus or a particular sort of bacteria, rather parasites are what actually cause malaria.
Malaria can result in serious health issues such as convulsions, brain damage, breathing difficulties, organ failure, and even death if it is not treated.
There are just 2,000 cases of the disease yearly in the United States. If you're going somewhere where malaria is a problem, talk to your doctor about how to avoid getting sick. If a mosquito bites an infected person who is visiting the US and then infects another person, the disease can spread.
How widespread is malaria?
Tropical regions with high temperatures and humidity are prone to malaria. There were 627,000 malaria-related deaths in 2020, with 241 million documented cases of the disease worldwide. Most of these occurrences take place in South Asia and Africa.
Where is malaria most common to occur?
Malaria occurs everywhere in the world, however, it is most prevalent in underdeveloped nations and regions with warm temperatures and heavy humidity, such as:
- Africa.
- Central and South America.
- Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other areas in the Caribbean.
- Eastern Europe.
- South and Southeast Asia.
- Islands in the Central and South Pacific Ocean (Oceania).
Who is at risk for malaria?
Malaria can affect everyone, but those who reside in Africa are more likely to contract the disease than those who do not. Malaria increases the risk of death in young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Complications from the condition are more likely to occur in those who lack access to healthcare and live in poverty.
Africa accounts for more than 90% of malaria deaths, and small children make up almost the entire mortality toll. In 2020, children under the age of five made up more than 80% of the malaria deaths in the area.
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
What causes malaria?
A mosquito gets infected when it bites a person who has malaria. The parasite the mosquito carries enters the bloodstream of the person it bites. The parasites grow there. Humans can contract one of five different types of malaria parasites.
In some instances, women who are pregnant and have malaria may pass the illness to their unborn children.
Although improbable, malaria can spread through hypodermic needles, organ transplants, and blood transfusions.
What symptoms and indicators are present in malaria?
Malaria symptoms are comparable to flu symptoms. They consist of:
- Fever and perspiration
- Your entire body shakes with the chills.
- Muscle pains and headaches.
- Fatigue.
- Cough, difficulty breathing, and chest pain.
- Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
- Anemia and jaundice can develop as malaria worsens (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
Cerebral malaria is the most severe type of disease, which can lead to a coma. This category accounts for roughly 20% of deaths in adults and 15% of deaths in children.
When do the signs and symptoms of malaria start to appear?
When a person contracts malaria, symptoms often start to show 10–30 days after infection. The severity of the symptoms can vary depending on the parasite species. Some people experience no symptoms for up to a year following a mosquito bite. Sometimes parasites can remain dormant in the body for years without showing any signs.
Depending on the parasite, several kinds of malaria can recur. The parasites are dormant in your liver for years before being discharged into your bloodstream. When the parasites start moving around, the symptoms start up again.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTS
How is malaria diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you and enquire about your symptoms and prior travel experiences. In order for your provider to fully comprehend your risk, it is crucial that you disclose information about the recent nations you have been to.
To check for malaria parasites, your healthcare professional will draw a sample of your blood and send it to a lab. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you have malaria and what kind of parasite is to blame for your symptoms thanks to the blood test. This data will be used by your healthcare practitioner to choose the best course of action.
MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT
How is malaria treated?
Treatment for malaria must begin as soon as possible. To kill the malaria parasite, your doctor will prescribe drugs. Malaria medications can't be used on some parasites.
Some medications are administered along with other medications. What kind of medication you take and how long you take it will depend on the type of parasite.
Antimalarial drugs include:
- Artemisinin drugs (artemether and artesunate). The best treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria, if available, is artemisinin combination therapy.
- Atovaquone (Mepron®).
- Chloroquine. There are parasites that are resistant to this medication.
- Doxycycline (Doxy-100®, Monodox®, Oracea®).
- Mefloquine.
- Quinine.
- Primaquine.
Medications can cure you.
What are the symptoms of Malaria in adults? How can Malaria be treated at home?
Malaria is a potentially life-threatening mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. The symptoms of malaria in adults can vary depending on the severity of the infection, but they typically include:
- High fever
- Chills and sweats
- Headache
- Body aches and joint pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- In severe cases, malaria can lead to seizures, coma, or even death.
It's important to note that these symptoms are not unique to malaria and can also be caused by other illnesses. If you suspect that you may have malaria, it's essential to see a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Malaria can be treated at home, but it's important to get medical advice before doing so. Treatment typically involves antimalarial medications prescribed by a healthcare professional. These medications are most effective when taken as prescribed, and it's essential to complete the full course of treatment, even if symptoms improve.
There are also some measures that can help manage symptoms at home, such as:
- Resting
- Drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce fever and relieve pain
- Using mosquito nets and insect repellent to avoid further mosquito bites
- Avoiding alcohol and caffeine
Again, it's crucial to seek medical advice before attempting to treat malaria at home, as the condition can be life-threatening if left untreated or not managed properly.
What side effects might drugs used to treat malaria cause?
Drugs used to treat malaria may have negative effects. If you take any other medications, be sure to let your doctor know because antimalarial medications may interact with them. The following negative effects are possible with various medications:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) issues such as nausea and diarrhea.
- Headaches.
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight.
- Insomnia and disturbing dreams.
- Psychological disorders and vision problems.
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
- Seizures.
- Anemia.
PREVENTION
Can I prevent malaria?
If you want to visit or temporarily reside in a region where malaria is prevalent, talk to your doctor about taking anti-malarial drugs. The medications must be taken before, during, and after your stay. The risk of contracting malaria can be significantly decreased by medication. If you take these medications but still contract malaria, you cannot use these medications to treat it.
In order to prevent mosquito bites, you should also take precautions. In order to lessen your risk of contracting malaria, you should:
- Apply mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin.
- Drape mosquito netting over beds.
- Put screens on windows and doors.
- Treat clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags, and other fabrics with an insect repellent called permethrin.
- Wear long pants and long sleeves to cover your skin.
Can you get vaccinated against malaria?
There is a vaccine for kids that was created and pilot-tested in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. The Plasmodium falciparum malaria that causes serious illness in children can be prevented with the RTS, S/AS01 vaccination.
PROGNOSIS
What is the prognosis for malaria patients?
Malaria can result in major health issues, including death and lasting organ damage if it is not adequately treated. If you suspect you have malaria or have recently traveled to a region where it is prevalent, it is critical to seek treatment as soon as possible. Early treatment has a substantially higher rate of success.
Malaria can be treated and the infection removed from your body with the proper treatment and dosage. If an infected mosquito bites you after you've already had malaria, you could contract it once more.
How is malaria related to the sickle cell trait?
Scientists have discovered that individuals with the sickle cell trait have some defense against the Plasmodium falciparum-caused form of malaria. It appears that the red blood cells sickle shape traps and aid in the destruction of parasites. Research is still being done to determine how to use this knowledge.
When you have one normal gene and one sickle cell gene, you develop a sickle cell trait. Compared to sickle cell disease, it is different. Sickle cell disease refers to a collection of blood conditions, including sickle cell anemia.
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