Malaria

Infectious diseases are very common, such as malaria, which is a severe disease, especially if it isn’t managed rapidly.

Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease that occurs because of a type of parasite that transmits mainly by mosquito bites.

Malaria is significantly common in tropical and subtropical countries (hot and humid places), especially in Africa, Asia, and South America.

Causes of malaria

• Malaria occurs because of one of four types of parasites, and it mainly transmits through mosquito bites. This happens when a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites a healthy one. By that, the disease is transmitted.
• In some cases, the disease might be transmitted through blood transfusion, needle sharing, and from the pregnant mother to her fetus.
• When the parasite enters the human body, it transfers to the liver and stays dormant there for as long as a year sometimes. After the parasite becomes mature, it transfers to the blood stream and attacks the red blood cells, and that’s when the symptoms begin.

Symptoms of malaria

• Fever and chills.
• Fatigue and discomfort.
• Headaches.
• Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Joint and muscle pain.
• Rapid breathing and heart rate.
• Cough and chest pain.

Complications of malaria

• Cerebral malaria, which occurs when the blood that contains the parasite blocks the small blood vessels in the brain, leading to swelling, seizures, and sometimes coma.
• Hypoglycemia.
• Damage in other organs, such as liver, kidneys, and spleen rupture.
• Anemia.
• Some malaria parasites might stay in the body for years and cause a relapse.
• Death.

Diagnosis of malaria

• Medical and traveling history.
• Physical examinations.
• Blood tests.

Treatment of malaria

Medications that depend on the type of the parasite, the symptoms, age, and whether the patient is a pregnant woman.

Prevention of malaria

When traveling to places where malaria is common, it’s recommended that you follow the following instructions to prevent mosquito bites:

• Covering the skin with clothes.
• Applying mosquito repellent to the exposed skin and clothes.
• Covering the windows and doors.
• Sleeping under a specific net.
• There are vaccines for malaria in the infectious places.