Malaria is one of the life-threatening diseases in the world. The disease is transmitted when you are bitten by an infected Anopheles mosquito. When an Anopheles mosquito bites you, it releases a parasite (Plasmodium parasite) into your bloodstream.
Once the Plasmodium parasites are in the body and they become mature, they travel to the liver.
After a few days, the parasites multiply in the liver and they start attacking and infecting red blood cells. Within a period of 48 to 72 hours, parasites in the red blood cells continue to multiply, causing the infected cells to burst.
The Plasmodium parasites continue multiplying, leading to symptoms that last 2 to 3 days and they occur in cycles.
According to WHO, it estimated that 229 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2019. There was an estimated number of 409, 000 malaria deaths in 2019. Still, WHO found that children under 5 years old are the most affected by malaria.
In 2019, 274, 000 children worldwide died of malaria. The African region has the highest rates of malaria and in 2019; Africa had 94% cases of malaria and deaths. In some areas, early diagnosis helps control malaria. However, the lack of resources to carry out screening makes it hard to control malaria.
However, malaria is preventable and curable.
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How is Malaria Transmitted?
Simply, you get malaria when an Anopheles mosquito bites you and releases Plasmodium parasites in the bloodstream. Over 400 species of Anopheles mosquitoes exist and only 30 are malaria vectors. Important vectors bite at dust and dawn when the conditions are favorable.
However, the rate of transmission will depend on the factors related to the vector, parasite, environment, and human host.
The transmission of malaria is intense in areas where the mosquito lifespan is longer and where humans are adequate than animals. Have you ever asked yourself why 90% of malaria cases are in Africa? This is because of the powerful human-biting habit of the African vector species.
Furthermore, malaria transmission depends on climatic conditions that affect the survival of mosquitoes, such as humidity, rainfall patterns, and temperature. Mostly, malaria is at it’s peak when the climate favors transmission in areas with poor resistance to malaria.
The other factor that contributes to malaria transmission is weak immunity. If your immunity is poor and you live in areas with moderate or high transmission factors, the chances of getting malaria are high. People who develop immunity partially do not get complete protection from malaria and they are at a higher risk of malaria infection.
For instance, in Africa, malaria deaths occur in young children because they have partial immunity. In areas with low immunity and transmission, anyone can get this disease.
Because malaria is transmitted by blood, it can also be transmitted through:
- A blood transfusion
- An organ transplant
- Sharing needles or syringes
- From mother to unborn child.
Symptoms of Malaria
Malaria symptoms start developing within 10 days up to weeks after the infection. In some individuals, they can be infected and not develop any symptoms for months. This is because some malarial parasites can enter your body but stay dormant for long.
The symptoms of malaria are divided into two categories: uncomplicated and severe malaria.
Uncomplicated Symptoms
The symptoms of uncomplicated malaria last 6 to 10 hours and they recur every day. Uncomplicated symptoms can become severe when left untreated in people with low or no immunity. The symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headaches and vomiting
- Seizures occurring in young people
- A sensation of cold with shivering
- Abnormal sweats with tiredness
- Muscle pain
- Discomfort
In people living where malaria is less common, they easily recognize the symptoms as malaria.
Severe Malaria
The symptoms of severe malaria include:
- Impaired consciousness
- Fever and chills
- Convulsions
- Deep breathing and respiratory stress
- Signs of anemia and abnormal bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stools
The symptoms of severe malaria can become severe if they are left untreated.
How is Malaria Diagnosed?
After you notice the symptoms, you should seek medical attention. After visiting your doctor and telling them about your symptoms, medical history, or recent travel will help them in the diagnosis. Still, doctors do a physical exam.
They can check if you have an enlarged liver. To confirm whether you have malaria or not, doctors conduct a blood test and examine it in the lab to check for malarial parasites. The results will help your doctor know which type of parasite is causing the symptoms and the perfect treatment.
Treatment
The treatment of malaria should start as soon as possible when the symptoms are noticed. To treat malaria, doctors prescribe drugs that help eliminate the Plasmodium parasite from your bloodstream. If you have the symptoms but they are not yet advanced, the symptoms can be treated to reduce the risk of transmission.
Sometimes, the prescribed drugs may not treat the infection because some parasites are resistant to malaria drugs. If the parasites causing the infection are resistant to drugs, you have to use more than one medication to treat the disease.
Moreover, some malarial parasites, such as P. Ovale and P. vivax can live in the body for longer periods and reactivate later making the infection to relapse. If you have these types of malaria parasites, you will take a second medication that will prevent the infection from relapsing.
Some examples of antimalarial drugs include:
- Quinine
- Chroloquine
- Atovaquone
- Mefloquine
- Artemisinin drugs.
How Can Malaria be Prevented?
Malaria is curable and preventable. If you live in an area with a high transmission rate, you should take medications that will prevent the infection. Besides, in case you are travelling to a country or area where malaria is common, you should take prescribed drugs, before, and after your stay.
Those people who live in areas where malaria is common should seek advice from a doctor about long-term prevention. Because mosquitoes love to bite between dusk and dawn, sleeping under a mosquito net will protect you from mosquito bites.
WHO advices the use of mosquito pesticides that are strong enough to kill mosquitoes and they are not harmful to humans. While travelling, avoid areas or situations that increase your risk of mosquito bites.
You should stay in an air-conditioned room, wear clothes that offer full body cover, avoiding camping by stagnant water.
What are Malaria Complications?
Malaria is a deadly disease and it causes multiple health complications. If you have malaria, the following complications can occur.
- Low blood sugar which can lead to coma or death
- Cerebral malaria which can cause coma and seizures
- As a result of accumulated fluid in your lungs, it can be hard to breath
- Malaria can lead to kidney failure or liver failure, where both are life-threatening
- Due to the destruction of red blood cells, you can get anemia.
Wrapping Up
If you notice the symptoms of malaria, talk with your doctor so that you can be treated as early as possible. When you visit an area or country with a high transmission rate, take the right precautions before, during, and after your stay. The right medication and precautions can treat malaria and clear it from the body.
