Malaria

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites and is transmitted through mosquito bites. When a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, the parasites enter the bloodstream. If left untreated, malaria can cause severe complications, including brain damage, respiratory distress, organ failure, and death.

What Causes Malaria?

Mosquitoes become infected when they bite a person with malaria. The disease spreads when an infected mosquito bites another person. There are five types of malaria parasites that can infect humans.

Although rare, malaria can also be transmitted from a pregnant person to their baby. Additionally, it is theoretically possible for malaria to be transmitted through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

Symptoms of Malaria

Common symptoms of malaria include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Rapid breathing
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• General feeling of illness
• Joint pain
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Some individuals with malaria experience cycles of symptoms. These episodes begin with chills and shivering, followed by a fever. After sweating, the person's body temperature returns to normal.

Symptoms of malaria typically appear a few weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. However, some types of malaria parasites can remain dormant in the body for up to a year.

Diagnosis of Malaria

To diagnose malaria, doctors assess symptoms and review recent travel history. A blood test is then conducted to detect the presence of malaria parasites.

Some blood test results are available immediately, while others may take up to 15 days. Blood tests help determine:

• Confirmation of malaria by detecting parasites in the blood
• Type of parasite present
• Whether the infection is caused by a drug-resistant parasite
• Whether the disease has led to any severe complications

Additional tests may be performed to help plan treatment:

• Drug resistance test
• Molecular test
• Blood smear test
• Antibody test

Additionally, the following tests may be performed to plan the treatment.

• Drug resistance test
• Molecular test
• Blood smear test
• Antibody test

Malaria Treatment Criteria

Malaria is treated with prescription medications to eliminate the parasite from the body. The type of medication and duration of treatment depend on the following factors:

• Type of parasite present
• Severity of symptoms
• Age
• Pregnancy status

Medications

The following medications are commonly used to treat malaria:

• Chloroquine phosphate is one of the primary drugs used for malaria treatment. However, due to the resistance of malaria parasites in many regions, it is no longer an effective treatment.
• Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) involves using a combination of two or more drugs that work in different ways against the malaria parasite. This is the preferred treatment for chloroquine-resistant malaria.

Other drug groups used in malaria treatment include:

• Atovaquone-proguanil
• Quinine sulfate with doxycycline
• Primaquine phosphate

Common side effects of malaria treatment medications include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight
• Insomnia
• Disturbing dreams
• Psychological disorders
• Vision problems
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Seizures
• Anemia

Home Remedies for Malaria

If malaria symptoms occur, it is essential to seek medical help. However, the following home remedies may help support malaria treatment:

• Drink plenty of water and fruit juices to prevent dehydration.
• Ginger tea can help reduce nausea and vomiting.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Sage tea has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a recommended remedy.
• Use prescribed fever-reducing medications.
• Chamomile tea may help lower fever and provide relaxation.
• Pain relievers can be used to manage body aches.

Malaria Transmission Routes

Malaria spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites a healthy person. Malaria parasites enter the healthy person's bloodstream and migrate to the liver. After completing their incubation period in the liver and maturing, they attach to red blood cells and re-enter circulation.

Other possible ways malaria can be transmitted include:

• Sharing needles used for drug injection
• Receiving a blood transfusion from a malaria-infected person
• Transmission from an infected mother to an unborn child

Malaria Risk Factors

The biggest risk factor for contracting malaria is living in or traveling to areas where the disease is widespread. These areas include tropical and subtropical regions. High-risk malaria areas include:

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• South and Southeast Asia
• Pacific Islands
• Central America
• Northern South America

The risk level in different geographic areas varies depending on local government malaria control efforts, seasonal changes, and mosquito eradication measures.

Groups at higher risk of severe malaria include:

• Pregnant women
• Fetuses
• Infants
• Young children
• Elderly adults
• Travelers from non-malaria regions visiting high-risk areas

In many regions where malaria is widespread, the lack of preventive measures, access to medical care, and public health information contributes to worsening conditions. People living in malaria-endemic regions may develop partial immunity to the disease, which can result in milder symptoms.

Malaria Complications

Malaria caused by the Plasmodium species, which is particularly common in Africa, can be fatal. Approximately 94% of malaria-related deaths occur in Africa, primarily affecting children under the age of five.

The main reasons why malaria can be fatal include:

Cerebral Malaria

When parasite-infected blood cells cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain, cerebral malaria occurs. This condition can cause brain damage and may also lead to seizures and coma.

Respiratory Problems

Fluid accumulation in the lungs can make breathing difficult.

Organ Failure

Malaria can damage the kidneys and liver and may cause the spleen to rupture. These are life-threatening health conditions.

Anemia

Malaria reduces the number of red blood cells, leading to insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues.

Low Blood Sugar

Quinine, a drug used in severe malaria cases, can significantly lower blood sugar levels.

How to Prevent Malaria?

To prevent malaria transmission, it is essential to avoid mosquito bites. If you live in or travel to areas where malaria is prevalent, you should take the following precautions:

• Wear long-sleeved clothing and pants to cover as much skin as possible.
• Use insect repellents applied to the skin.
• Use permethrin-treated mosquito repellents on clothing for additional protection.
• Sleep under a mosquito net.
• Consult a doctor about taking preventive medication before traveling to areas where malaria is common.