Malaria

What is malaria? Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a virus that usually infects a particular type of mosquito that eats people. People who get malaria often get very sick because of high fever, cold, and flu-like illnesses. Four types of malaria parasites infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium closed, and Plasmodium malaria. In addition, Plasmodium themselves, a type of malaria that naturally affects macaques in Southeast Asia, also infects humans, causing malaria that is transmitted from animal to human ("zoonotic" malaria). Plasmodium falciparum is a type of malaria that is more likely to cause serious illness and if left untreated can lead to death. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, the illness and death caused by malaria can often be prevented. About 2,000 cases of malaria occur in the United States each year. Most cases in the United States are for travelers and migrants from parts of the world where malaria transmission occurs, including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that by 2020, there were 241 million cases of malaria, and 627,000 people died of malaria, most of them children in Africa. Because malaria causes so many illnesses and deaths, the disease paralyzes most of the world's economy. Since most malaria-infected countries are among the poorest countries, the disease maintains a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. How Do People Get Malaria (Transmission)? How is malaria spread? Generally, people get malaria by being bitten by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and must be infected by eating the blood taken from an infected person. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood containing small malaria parasites is absorbed. About 1 week later, when the mosquitoes eat their next blood, the insects mate with the mosquito's saliva and inject it into the person being bitten. Because the malaria virus is found in the red blood cells of an infected person, malaria can also be spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, or sharing needles or injections with blood. Malaria can also be passed from a mother to her unborn baby before or during childbirth (“birth” malaria).

Is malaria a contagious disease? No. Malaria is not transmitted to another person as flu, and it cannot be transmitted sexually. You cannot get malaria just by contacting people who have malaria, such as living near someone who has malaria. Who is at Risk? Anyone can get malaria. Many cases occur in people living in countries with malaria. People from countries that do not have malaria can become infected when they visit countries with malaria or through blood transfusions (although this is very rare). Also, an infected mother can transmit malaria to her baby before or during childbirth. Who is most at risk of getting very sick and dying of malaria? Plasmodium falciparum is a type of malaria that often causes severe and life-threatening malaria; this species is endemic to many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. People who are most exposed to mosquito bites with Plasmodium falciparum are at high risk of dying from malaria. People who have little or no malaria vaccine, such as young children and pregnant women or travelers from malaria-free areas, are more likely to get very sick and die. Poor people living in rural areas that do not have access to health care are at high risk of contracting the disease. As a result of all these factors, an estimated 90% of malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa; most of these deaths occur in children under five years of age.

Symptoms and Diagnosis: What are the signs and symptoms of malaria? Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, which include tremors, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may occur. Malaria can cause anemia and jaundice (yellow color of the skin and eyes) due to the loss of red blood cells. Left untreated, the disease can become very serious and can lead to kidney failure, fainting, confusion, fainting, and death. How soon will a person feel sick after being bitten by an infected mosquito? For most people, the symptoms start 10 to 4 days after infection, although a person may feel sick as soon as 7 days or even after one year. Two types of malaria, Plasmodium vivax, and Plasmodium closed recurrent (relapsing malaria). In the diseases of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium closed, some parasites can remain dormant in the liver for a few months up to 4 years after a person has been bitten by an infected mosquito. When these insects emerge from their slumber and begin to attack the red blood cells (“repeat”), a person will become ill.

Preventing Malaria during Travel: The CDC lists all areas in the world where malaria transmission occurs and anti-malarial drugs are recommended to prevent each area. Many effective anti-malarial drugs are available. Your healthcare provider and you will decide on the best drug for you, if any, based on your travel plans, medical history, age, drug use, pregnancy status, and other factors. To allow enough time for some of the medications to work properly and the pharmacy to adjust any special doses of medication (especially for infants and infants), you may need to visit your healthcare provider 4-6 weeks before the trip. Some antiretroviral drugs need to be started only the day before the trip so last-minute travelers can still benefit from visiting their healthcare provider before leaving.

Is there no vaccine for malaria? And if not, why not? Efforts to develop an effective malaria vaccine and clinical immunization trials are ongoing. The malaria parasite is a complex animal with a complex life cycle. The parasite can escape your immune system by constantly changing its location, so building a vaccine for these different areas is very difficult. In addition, scientists still do not fully understand the complex immune response of humans to malaria. However, many scientists around the world are working toward a more sustainable goal. Because other anti-malarial measures, including drugs, pesticides, and insecticide-treated nets, have not been effective in eradicating the disease, the search for a vaccine is considered one of the most important research programs in public health.

Malaria with infants and children: Should infants and children be given anti-malarial drugs? Yes, but not all types of malaria drugs. Children of any age can get malaria and any child who goes to the place where the malaria infection occurs should use recommended preventative measures, usually including anti-malarial drugs. However, some antiretroviral drugs are not suitable for children. Dosages are based on the child's weight.

Treatment for Malaria: When should you treat malaria? The disease should be treated early in its course before it becomes serious and life-threatening. Several good antimalarial drugs are available and should be taken early. The most important step is to see a doctor if you are sick and currently, or have just arrived, in an area with malaria, so that the disease can be diagnosed and treated quickly. What is the treatment for malaria? Malaria can be treated with prescription drugs. The type of medication and the duration of treatment depend on the type of malaria, where the person is infected, their age, how pregnant they are, and how sick they are at the start of treatment.

Samina Zaheer (Health Tips, Health Care)