Malaria

When a mosquito bites you, it spreads malaria, a parasite disease that can be fatal. A mosquito bite introduce malaria parasites into your bloodstream. It is cause by parasites rather than a virus or a specific type of bacteria. If malaria is not treated, it can cause major health problems such as convulsions, brain damage, breathing problems, organ failure, and even death.

Only 2,000 cases of the illness are reported each year in the US. Consult your doctor for advice on how to stay healthy if you’re travelling to an area where malaria is a concern. The disease can spread if a mosquito bites an infected visitor to the US and then infects someone else.

How common is malaria?

It  is more common in tropical areas with high temperatures and humidity. In 2020, there were 627,000 fatalities from malaria, and there were 241 million confirmed cases of the illness worldwide. The majority of these incidents occur in South Asia and Africa.

Where does malaria most frequently manifest?

It is a disease that affects individuals worldwide, but it is more common in developing countries and areas with warm temperatures and high humidity, like:

•  Africa
• Central and South America
• Other Caribbean countries include Haiti and the Dominican Republic
• Eastern Europe
• Southeast and Southern Asia
• Islands in the Central and South Pacific of Oceania

What is the cause of malaria?

A mosquito get infected when it bites a person who has malaria. When a mosquito bites someone, the parasite it carries enter its circulation. There, the parasites flourish. There are five different kinds of malaria parasites that people might contract. In some cases, pregnant women who have malaria risk passing the disease to their unborn children. Malaria can, albeit rarely, be transmitted by hypodermic needles, organ transplants, and blood transfusions.

What signs and symptoms characterise malaria?

Malaria symptoms are comparable to flu symptoms. They include:

• Fever and perspiration
• With the chills, your entire body trembles
• Headaches and backaches
• Fatigue
• Cough, breathing issues, and chest pain
• Nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting

How is malaria diagnosed?

You will be examine by a doctor who will also ask you about your symptoms and previous travel experiences. You must supply information about the recent countries you visited so that your provider can completely understand your risk.

Your doctor will take a blood sample and send it to a lab to be examine for malaria parasites. The blood test will allow your doctor to establish whether you have it and what kind of parasite is causing your symptoms. Your healthcare provider will use this information to choose the best course of action.

How is the disease treated?

The treatment must start as soon as feasible. To kill the parasite, your doctor will prescribe drugs. The medications cannot be use to treat all parasites. Some medications are administered along with other medications. The type of parasite will determine the medication you take and how long you should take it for.

Examples of artemisinin-based antimalarial drugs include artesunate and artemether. For Plasmodium falciparum malaria, artemisinin combination therapy, if available, is the most effective treatment.

Some parasites are resistant to this treatment:

• Doxycycline
• Mefloquine
• Quinine
• Primaquine

Conclusion

Even though the disease is a fatal sickness, there are steps you may take to avoid getting it. You can lower your risk of catching an infection by taking prophylactic medications and taking steps to avoid mosquito bites. If you’re heading somewhere where it is a common problem, talk to your doctor a few weeks before your trip. If you are pregnant, this is very crucial.