English
Hindi
Types of Malaria and their Symptoms
Overview
Table of Contents
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease which is caused by a parasite plasmodium. There are more than a hundred types of plasmodium in the world. These parasites transmit into the human body by the bite of the infected mosquitoes. These parasites once enter the human body continuously multiply and destroy your immune system.
Malaria left untreated is even threatening and the disease must not be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, there is currently no vaccine also available for Malaria prevention. The disease can only be prevented if diagnosed at the right time.
Symptoms of Malaria may not be visible instantly after the mosquito bite and it may take 2 to 3 weeks for visible symptoms.
Some of the common symptoms to detect Malaria includes the following of them-
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Bone pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Persistent pain in the abdomen
• Body ache or muscle ache
• Fatigue and Obesity
• Shortness of breathing
• Increased Heartbeat rate
• Cough and cold
• Abnormal sweating all the time
• Rectal bleeding
• Unconsciousness
• Organ dysfunction
Symptoms may not be seen in the initial stage. If you are among those who decide in malaria-prone areas or have recently travelled to places where there is a high risk for malaria then you must go to your medical doctor at least once.
If you experience symptoms like bleeding and persistent cough then you must understand the symptom and visit your doctor for further diagnosis and treatment.
Malaria is caused by parasites named genus plasmodium which transmits through mosquito bites. After the parasite enters your body they affect your liver in the very first phase. These parasites then get matured and cause infection in your red blood cell which worsens the disease symptoms.
The risk factors to develop malaria is more in the following of them –
• The risk factors are more for people living in Southeast Asia, Pacific Island, Central America, sub-Saharan Africa
• Low immune people
• Infant and younger children
• Travellers
• Pregnant women’s
Malaria disease most probably leads to the following complications in most people-
• Pulmonary Edema
• Cerebral Malaria
• Permanent organ damage (kidney and lungs)
• Anaemia
• Hypoglycaemia
Malaria cannot be completely prevented but you can take the following precautional measures to reduce its risk yourself-
• Wear long sleeve dresses with shoes and cover your body completely while going out
• Always shower once you step inside house
• Apply insect repellents to your skin, especially with a concentration of DEET and PMD.
• Always sleep under a mosquito net
• Go for anti-malarial drug suggested by the World Health Organisation before you travel somewhere
• Drink pure and clean water
• Keep your environment clean. Live in a clean home with air-conditioned rooms
Fact – this is a big myth created by everyone that you are immune for ever if you have been affected by Malaria once. The truth is if you again visit some unsafe place or if you again get a bite from mosquito which carry Malaria disease than you are again Malaria positive.
Fact – there are many case of Malaria which have taken life of hundred and more of people.
Fact – this statement is a complete False. You can only reduce the risk of malaria in your body but it can still effective because you never know which mosquito is in the year and the things depend on many other factors of which we are still unaware.
Doctors can do the following things to detect your Malaria disease –
• Oral examination to know everything about where you visited recently, the place you reside and others
• Blood sample
• Urine analysis
• Physical examinations
Doctors generally prescribe antimalarial drugs and other antibiotics to treat your malaria. These may include the following of them –
1. Artemisinin-based combination therapies or ACT’s
2. Primaquine phosphate
3. Chloroquin phosphate
4. Quinine sulphate
5. Atovaquone-proguanil
Answer – Malaria is one of the most common disease during the rainy season.
Answer – no, Malaria is not contagious and it can never spread from one person to another by physical touch.
Answer – yes , the cases for Malaria have been increasing over years and now it is the one of the most common infection world widely . The disease is also increasing its death rate over years.
Answer – yes Malaria disease is easily diagnosed by blood test and no other further diagnosis is required for it.
Answer – malaria in the initial stage generally take two weeks to a month to get treated completely.
Answer – you must avoid cold drinks , alcohol , smoking and caffeine containing beverages.
