Unveiling the Malaria Mystery: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention Strategies

Overview

Malaria is a serious illness that is transferred to humans by female Anopheles mosquito. The disease has a global impact as it infects around 290 million individuals every year. Also, it is responsible for over 400,000 deaths annually.

Malaria can lead people to grave complications such as seizures and brain impairment if prompt treatment is not taken. Continue going through this article to find out malaria symptoms and treatment and get better prevention.

Malaria Susceptibility: Understanding Who Is at Risk

Malaria has been a huge public health concern for years. It affects people in 87 countries globally, mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. The recent figures in India are even more shocking. The country shares 2% of all cases and 2% of malaria deaths globally.

Factors such as poverty and limited access to healthcare may cause the vulnerability of people to this disease. By understanding the groups that may be at risk of contracting the disease, healthcare professionals can take appropriate measures and provide timely treatment to reduce its impact.

What are the Causes of Malaria?

Malaria is a serious health condition that can occur when an infected Plasmodium-infected mosquito bites you. There are four types of Malaria parasites and among them, P. falciparum is found to be the most dangerous that may cause death.

The disease can also be congenital when an infected mother transmits it to her baby at birth. It is passed through blood, so organ transplants, blood transfusions or the sharing of needles or syringes can also be the reasons for having this health condition.

The Signs of Malaria

Malaria has a range of signs and symptoms, including:

1. Fever
2. Chills
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. General discomfort
6. Headache
7. Diarrhoea
8. Fatigue
9. Rapid breathing
10. Abdominal pain
11. Muscle or joint pain
12. Rapid heart rate
13. Coughing. How is Malaria Treated?

A timely diagnosis and treatment of malaria is essential to avoid life-threatening complications. To kill the malaria parasite, your doctor will prescribe some medicines. Some parasites are resistant to malaria drugs, so your doctor may give you a combination of drugs. The type of drug and how long you take it will depend on the type of parasite.

Some types of malaria can stay in your body for a long time and come back later, causing sickness again. To stop this from happening, you will need to take another medicine.

The Prevention Strategies

If you are in an area where this ailment is common, it is important to avoid mosquito bites. The insect is most active from the early morning to evening, so taking Malaria precautions is essential. You can:

Minimise skin exposure

To minimise skin exposure to mosquitos, prefer wearing full clothes specially during the time when the insect is more active.

Use insect repellent

Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus), IR3535, 2-undecanone or para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) on your exposed skin. Avoid using OLE or PMD on children under age 3, and do not apply spray repellent directly to your face.

Use Nets & Apply repellent to clothing

Permethrin sprays can be safely applied to clothing to help repel mosquitoes. Bed nets treated with insecticides like permethrin can help prevent the bites of mosquitoes while you are on your bed.

Malaria can be fatal if not treated within time. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies, the impact can be reduced effectively. A proper diagnosis and treatment may also help combat it.