Breaking Down the Facts: An Overview of Malaria

When a mosquito bites you, it transmits the deadly parasitic disease known as malaria. The mosquito injects malaria parasites into your bloodstream when it bites you. Not a virus or a particular sort of bacteria, rather parasites are what actually cause malaria.

Malaria can result in serious health issues such convulsions, brain damage, breathing difficulties, organ failure, and even death if it is not treated.

What are the symptoms present in malaria?

• Sweating and a fever
• Your entire body shakes with the chills.
• Muscle pains and headaches.
• Cough, difficulty breathing, and chest pain.
• Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhoea.
• Anaemia and jaundice can develop as malaria worsens (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).

When do the signs and symptoms of malaria start to appear?

When a person contracts malaria, symptoms often start to show 10–30 days after infection. The severity of the symptoms can vary depending on the parasite species. Some people experience no symptoms for up to a year following a mosquito bite. Sometimes parasites can remain dormant in the body for years without showing any signs.

Depending on the parasite, several kinds of malaria can recur. The parasites are dormant in your liver for years before being discharged into your bloodstream. When the parasites start moving around, the symptoms start up again.

How Malaria is Diagnosed?

Microscopy Test: This is the most often used diagnostic test for malaria. A drop of blood from a blood sample is deposited on a slide, and the slide is viewed under a microscope to check for the parasite’s existence.

Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT): This straightforward point-of-care examination can be carried out in a medical environment. A test strip with particular antibodies created to identify the presence of the Plasmodium parasite is used to apply a blood sample to.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): This laboratory test identifies the parasite’s presence by using DNA amplification technology. The Plasmodium parasite’s DNA is amplified using a blood sample, making it possible to find even trace levels of the parasite in the sample.

Treatment for Malaria

Antimalarial drugs: These drugs are used to kill the Plasmodium parasite and include artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), quinine, and mefloquine.

Supportive care: This may include measures to manage symptoms such as fever, headaches, and muscle pain, as well as measures to prevent and treat complications such as anaemia, low blood sugar, and low blood pressure.

Prevention measures: It is important to take measures to prevent the transmission of malaria, such as using bed nets, taking preventive medications, and avoiding mosquito bites.

Malaria and Pregnancy: Risks and Precautions

Malaria infection during pregnancy can pose significant risks to both the mother and the unborn child. Some of the potential risks associated with malaria during pregnancy include:

• Low birth weight
• Premature delivery
• Miscarriage
• Anaemia

To reduce the risk of malaria during pregnancy, it is important to take the following precautions:

• Prevent mosquito bites: Use bed nets, wear protective clothing, and use mosquito repellents to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.
• Take preventive medications: If you are traveling to an area with a high risk of malaria, your healthcare provider may recommend taking preventive medications to reduce the risk of infection.
• Seek prompt medical attention: If you suspect that you have been infected with malaria, seek prompt medical attention to receive early treatment and reduce the risk of serious complications.

Conclusion

At Altor Hospitals, we are committed to providing the highest standard of care for our patients and to raising awareness about the importance of preventing and treating malaria. Whether you are seeking treatment for a current infection or seeking preventive measures to reduce your risk of infection, our experienced and knowledgeable healthcare professionals are here to help. By working together, we can help to reduce the impact of malaria and improve the health and well-being of individuals.