What is Malaria?
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted to humans by the Anopheles mosquito. Five species of Plasmodium are known to infect humans, including Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium knowlesi.
Proguanil tablets for malaria prevention when staying in malarious areas. Available over the counter without prescription. Check with a doctor or pharmacist which anti malaria medicine is appropriate for your country of visitation.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is widespread in tropical countries. The Plasmodium vivax parasite is the most common cause of malaria, but Plasmodium falciparium is most likely to cause severe, life-threatening illness. Plasmodium falciparum is common in African countries south of the Sahara desert.
When a female Anopheles mosquito bites a human infected with malaria, it takes in malaria parasites along with its blood meal. When the mosquito bites another human, it injects the malaria parasites into his or her bloodstream. Malaria parasites travel in the blood to the liver, where they multiply. Thousands of parasites are released from the liver into the blood every few days, where they destroy red blood cells.
Symptoms of Malaria
Symptoms of malaria usually begin within a few weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito, but may take as long as several months to appear. Symptoms include a flu-like illness, high fever, shaking chills, sweating, headaches, muscle aches, diarrhoea and vomiting.
If malaria infection is left untreated, it can cause anaemia, coma and death. Young children, pregnant women, travellers and people living in poverty-stricken areas are most at risk of serious illness and death from malaria. Approximately 1 million people die every year from malaria. Most of these deaths occur among children living in Africa.
Treating and Preventing Malaria
With the correct treatment, malaria is curable. Once a blood test has confirmed malaria infection, anti-malarial medications such as chloroquine or quinine can be given orally, by injection or intravenously. A malaria vaccine is currently under development.
Although malaria can be life threatening, it is preventable. Take anti malaria tablets if you are visiting a country where malaria is common. Sleep under a mosquito net to prevent bites from infected mosquitoes.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
KidsHealth
Mayo Clinic
World Health Organisation
