Malaria: Facts, Symptoms, Complication, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

According to research, the highest causes of death in Africa apart from poverty and Mal-nutrition is Malaria. Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called plasmodium which is transmitted through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream. Once the parasites are inside your body, they travel to the liver, where they mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and begin to infect red blood cells.

Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. The parasites continue to infect red blood cells, resulting in symptoms that occur in cycles that last two to three days at a time.

Malaria facts

• Malaria is typically spread by mosquitoes

• Symptoms resemble those of flu, but, without treatment, the effects can sometimes be long-term and fatal.

• Travelers, hikers, and campers can protect themselves with medication, pest control, clothing, and nets.

• More than 215 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide in 2016.

• The World Health Organization estimates that 445,000 people died of malaria in 2016; the vast majority are young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Although this is a significant decrease in deaths since 2000 due to increased prevention and control measures, there has been an increase from 2015 to 2016.

What are the symptoms of malaria?

The symptoms of malaria typically develop within 10 days to 4 weeks following the infection. In some cases, symptoms may not develop for several months. Some malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant for long periods of time.

Common symptoms of malaria include:

• shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• anemia
• muscle pain
• convulsions
• coma
• bloody stools

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Complications

These complications occur on severe cases of Malaria.  In severe malaria, clinical or laboratory evidence shows signs of vital organ dysfunction.

Symptoms of severe malaria include:

• fever and chills
• impaired consciousness
• prostration, or adopting a prone position
• multiple convulsions
• deep breathing and respiratory distress
• abnormal bleeding and signs of anemia
• clinical jaundice and evidence of vital organ dysfunction
• Severe malaria can be fatal without treatment.

Making the Diagnosis

You may have malaria if you have any fever during or after travel in malarial regions. See a doctor quickly, and get your blood tested to check if the parasite is present. The doctor will also check to see if you have an enlarged spleen, which sometimes accompanies the fever of malaria. Don't wait to get home for treatment if you get malaria abroad.

Plasmodium parasites in the blood are usually visible under the microscope. There are also simple dipstick tests (done by dipping a piece of paper with chemicals on it into your blood) that can be used to identify P. falciparum. Blood tests as well as liver and kidney function tests will be done to check the effects of the parasite on your body. 

Treatment

Treatment aims to eliminate the Plasmodium parasite from the patient's bloodstream.

Those without symptoms may be treated for infection to reduce the risk of disease transmission in the surrounding population.

Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by the WHO to treat uncomplicated malaria.

Artemisinin is derived from the plant Artemisia annua, better known as sweet wormwood. It is known for its ability to rapidly reduce the concentration of Plasmodium parasites in the bloodstream.

ACT is artemisinin combined with a partner drug. The role of artemisinin is to reduce the number of parasites within the first 3 days of infection, while the partner drugs eliminate the rest.

Expanding access to ACT treatment worldwide has helped reduce the impact of malaria, but the disease is becoming increasingly resistant to the effects of ACT.

In places where malaria is resistant to ACT, treatment must contain an effective partner drug.

The WHO has warned that no alternatives to artemisinin are likely to become available for several years.

How to prevent malaria

There’s no vaccine available to prevent malaria. Talk to your doctor if you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common or if you live in such an area. You may be prescribed medications to prevent the disease.

These medications are the same as those used to treat the disease and should be taken before, during, and after your trip.

Talk to your doctor about long-term prevention if you live in an area where malaria is common. Sleeping under a mosquito net may help prevent being bitten by an infected mosquito. Covering your skin or using bug sprays containing DEET may also help prevent infection.

If you’re unsure if malaria is prevalent in your area, the CDC has an up-to-date map of where malaria can be found. You can check out my blog on "food that can repel mosquito"