Malaria is a parasitic disease.... This parasite is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.... People with malaria usually have these symptoms: feeling sick and severe nausea, high fever, chills... Every year, nearly 210 million people are infected with malaria, and about 440,000 children die from this disease.

This disease is not common in temperate climates.. However, malaria is common in tropical and subtropical regions.. World health authorities are trying to reduce the incidence of malaria by distributing mosquito nets.. In such a way that these mosquito nets protect people from mosquito bites while they sleep.... Scientists around the world are trying to produce a malaria vaccine to prevent this disease.

If you plan to travel to places where malaria is common, you should take steps to prevent mosquito bites, including wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping under a mosquito net. In addition, depending on the area you are traveling to and your personal risk factors for the disease, you may need to take preventive medication before and after your trip.. Currently, many malaria parasites are resistant to the most common drugs used to treat this disease.

Symptoms of malaria

Malaria infection is generally recognized by these signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Shiver
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle pain and extreme fatigue

• to sweat
• Pain in the abdomen or chest
• Cough

Some people with malaria may also experience cycles of malaria "attacks". These attacks usually start with chills, then a high fever, followed by sweating, and eventually the body temperature returns to normal.. Signs and symptoms of malaria usually start within a few weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito... However, some types of malaria can remain in your body.>

When should you see an infectious disease specialist?

If you've had a fever while living in or after traveling to areas with high risk of malaria, talk to your infectious disease and fever doctor... The parasites that cause malaria can stay hidden in your body for up to a year.... If you have severe symptoms, seek emergency medical care.

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Causes of malaria

Malaria is caused by a microscopic parasite.... This parasite is mainly transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.

Mosquito transmission cycle

• Non-infected mosquito... Mosquito becomes infected by feeding on a person with malaria.
• Parasite transmission. If this mosquito bites you in the future, it can transmit the malaria parasite to you.
• In the liver... When these parasites enter your body, they travel to your liver - where some types can lay dormant for up to a year.
• In the bloodstream. When the parasites mature, they leave the liver and infect the red blood cells... This is usually when people show symptoms of malaria
• Transmission to another person. If an uninfected mosquito bites you at this stage of the cycle, it will be infected with the malaria parasite and can spread it to other people through its bite.

Other methods of malaria transmission

Because malaria parasites affect red blood cells, people can also get malaria through exposure to infected blood.. including:

• From mother to unborn child
• From blood transfusion
• Using a normal needle to inject drugs

Risk factors (Risk factors) of malaria

The biggest risk factor for contracting malaria is living or visiting areas where the disease is common.. There are different types of malaria parasites... The types that cause the most severe complications are usually found in the following locations:

• African countries south of the Sahara
• Asia Peninsula
• New Guinea, Dominican Republic and Haiti

Risk factors for more severe diseases

People who are at high risk of developing a severe form of the disease include the following:

• children and babies
• Elderly
• People traveling from malaria-free areas to malaria-endemic areas
• Pregnant women and their unborn children

Poverty, lack of knowledge and information, and little or no access to health care are other factors that can contribute to malaria deaths worldwide.

Immunity against disease can be lost

Residents of malaria-endemic areas may be constantly exposed to the agent, which gives them a relative immunity to the disease that can reduce the severity of malaria symptoms in these people. But this relative immunity can disappear if you move to a country where you are no longer permanently exposed to the parasite.

Learn more: Lyme disease

Symptoms of malaria disease

Malaria can be fatal, especially the type of malaria caused by a parasite common in tropical Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 91 percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa (mostly in children under 5).

In most cases, death from malaria is associated with some serious complications of the disease, including:

• Cerebral malaria... If blood cells containing the parasite block the small blood vessels that go to the brain (cerebral malaria), swelling of the brain or brain damage can occur...Cerebral malaria can cause seizures and coma.
• Breathing problems. Fluid accumulation in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can make breathing difficult.
• Failure of internal organs. Malaria can lead to kidney or liver failure or rupture of the spleen.... Each of these conditions can be dangerous and fatal.
• Anemia... Malaria damages red glial cells, which can lead to anemia.
• Low blood sugar. Severe forms of malaria can lead to low blood sugar.... Quinine can also have the same effect on blood sugar.. This substance is one of the most common drugs used to fight malaria.. Very low blood sugar can lead to coma or death.

Malaria may recur

Some types of malaria parasites that cause milder forms of the disease can remain in the body for several years and cause relapses.

Malaria prevention

If you live or travel to an area where malaria is common, take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn (when it is dark). To protect yourself from mosquito bites, you should:

• Cover your skin... Wear pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt.
• Use insect repellent on your skin and clothing. Sprays containing DEET are suitable for skin and sprays containing permethrin are suitable for clothing.
• Sleep under a mosquito net. Mosquito nets, especially those treated with insecticide, can be helpful in preventing mosquito bites while sleeping.

Drug prevention

If you plan to travel to a place where malaria is common, check with your doctor a few months before you go to see if you should take medication to protect yourself from malaria parasites before, during, and after your trip.

In general, the drugs used to prevent malaria are the same drugs used to treat the disease. Your doctor should know when and where you are traveling to help you assess your risk of infection and, if needed, prescribe a drug that is more effective against the type of malaria parasite that is prevalent in that area.

There is still no vaccine for this disease

Scientists around the world are trying to develop an effective and safe vaccine for malaria... However, no vaccine has yet been approved for use in humans.

Diagnosis of malaria

To diagnose malaria, your doctor will likely review your medical history, perform a physical exam, and order blood tests. Blood tests are the only way to confirm a diagnosis of malaria.

• The presence of parasites in the blood, to confirm whether you have malaria or not
• The type of malaria parasite that caused your symptoms
• Is your infection caused by a parasite that is resistant to some drugs or not
?..

Other blood tests help determine whether the disease is leading to serious complications.

Some blood tests take several days to complete.. While some of these tests can give you the results in less than 15 minutes.

Treatment of malaria

Malaria is treated by prescribing drugs that destroy the parasite.. The types of drugs and the length of treatment will be different according to the following:

• The type of malaria parasite that caused the infection in you
• The severity of your symptoms
• Your age
Are you pregnant or not?

Drugs used to treat malaria

The most common antimalarial drugs include the following:

• Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs)...including artemether-lumefantrine (Quartem) and artesunate-amodiaquine....Each ACT is a combination of two or more drugs that act in different ways against the malaria parasite.
• Chloroquine phosphate... Chloroquine is the preferred treatment for any parasite that is sensitive to this drug and not resistant to it.... But in many parts of the world, malaria parasites are resistant to chloroquine, and in these cases this drug is no longer an effective treatment.

• combination of atovaquone and proguanil (Melaron)
• quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) with doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox and others)
• Mefloquine
Primaquine Phosphate

Possible future treatments for malaria

New anti-malarial drugs are being researched and developed....The treatment of malaria is characterized by a constant struggle between evolving drug-resistant parasites and the search for new drug formulations....For example, one type of malaria parasite has shown resistance to almost all available anti-malarial drugs.