Malaria Symptoms, Cause, and Prevention
Malaria is an infectious disease due to plasmodium parasite infection which is transmitted through mosquito bites called Anopheles. Anopheles mosquitoes cause malaria in the temperate regions area, especially in Africa and India.
The plamodium parasite transmitted by these mosquitoes attack red blood cells. Until this time, there are four type of plasmodium able to infect human, Plasmodium Vivax, Plasmodium Malariae, Plasmodium Ovale, and Plasmodium Falciparum. Plasmodium Falciparum is the most dangerous and life threatening.
Each year, approximately 1.2 million people of worldwide die because malaria. Similiarly, according to the latest data published in the British medical journal, The Lancet. Figures out, that the number much higher than WHO estimation in 2010 which is 655.000.
Malaria Symptoms.
The symptoms of malaria are similiar to the symptoms of flu. Patients have fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches joints. Patients experiencing nausea, vomitting, cough and diarrhea. The typical symptoms of malaria are the cycles of chills, fever and sweating that occurs over and over again. Repetition can take place every day, two days or three days depending on the type of malaria. Other symptoms is the yellowing of the skin due to the destruction of red blood and liver cells.
Initial malaria infection generally have the following signs and symptoms :
-Shiver
-High fever
-Excessive sweating body with decreasing temperature
-Experiencing discomfort and uneasiness (malaise)
Other signs and symptoms include:
-Headache
-Nausea
-Gag
-Diarrhea
In some cases, the parasite that causes malaria in the human body can survive for several months. Meanwhile, infections due to P. Falciparum parasite is usually more serious and life threatening. So when feeling those symptoms, doctor's handler earlier is strongly recommended.
Causes, Transmission & Risk Factors.
Despite having almost similiar symptoms, malaria and dengue fever caused by different mosquitoes. Mosquito causes dengue fever is Aedes aegypti, and attack at noon. While the anopheles mosquito that cause malaria attack during the morning and afternoon.
-Causes
Parasite that causes malaria called plasmodium. There are 170 species of plasmodium, but only four that cause malaria in humans:
-P. falciparum, a species that is widely available in Africa and causes severe symptoms.
-P. vivax, a species that is widely available in the tropical regions of Asia.
-P. malariae, is widely available in Africa and can remain in the bloodstream without causing any symptoms for several years.
-P. ovale, is widely available in western Africa.
Risk Factors Affected by Malaria
Those who have low immunity against malaria has a greater risk. This is in contrast to those living in endemic areas because it already has immunity against malaria.
They are at risk malaria, among others :
- Children and babies
- Travelers coming from areas with no malaria
- Pregnant woman and her fetus.
Prevention and Treatment Method
There is no effective vaccine against malaria, In endemic countries prevention is to keep mosquitoes from humans by wearing insect repellent or mosquito nets.
Prevention
Usually the government did foging (fumigation) in malaria endemic areas. But we can also do the following precautions:
- Avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing
- Use anti-mosquito cream
- Installing anti-mosquito nets
- If you will be travelling to a place where a lot of mosquitoes threatening, consult your doctor
- Don't leave the house after dusk
- To spray insect repellent in the house, especially bedroom and toilet.
Don't forget, keep their own health by eating nutritious food and regular exercise to boost the immune system and prevent attacks of malaria.
The plamodium parasite transmitted by these mosquitoes attack red blood cells. Until this time, there are four type of plasmodium able to infect human, Plasmodium Vivax, Plasmodium Malariae, Plasmodium Ovale, and Plasmodium Falciparum. Plasmodium Falciparum is the most dangerous and life threatening.
Each year, approximately 1.2 million people of worldwide die because malaria. Similiarly, according to the latest data published in the British medical journal, The Lancet. Figures out, that the number much higher than WHO estimation in 2010 which is 655.000.
Malaria Symptoms.
The symptoms of malaria are similiar to the symptoms of flu. Patients have fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches joints. Patients experiencing nausea, vomitting, cough and diarrhea. The typical symptoms of malaria are the cycles of chills, fever and sweating that occurs over and over again. Repetition can take place every day, two days or three days depending on the type of malaria. Other symptoms is the yellowing of the skin due to the destruction of red blood and liver cells.
Initial malaria infection generally have the following signs and symptoms :
-Shiver
-High fever
-Excessive sweating body with decreasing temperature
-Experiencing discomfort and uneasiness (malaise)
Other signs and symptoms include:
-Headache
-Nausea
-Gag
-Diarrhea
In some cases, the parasite that causes malaria in the human body can survive for several months. Meanwhile, infections due to P. Falciparum parasite is usually more serious and life threatening. So when feeling those symptoms, doctor's handler earlier is strongly recommended.
Causes, Transmission & Risk Factors.
Despite having almost similiar symptoms, malaria and dengue fever caused by different mosquitoes. Mosquito causes dengue fever is Aedes aegypti, and attack at noon. While the anopheles mosquito that cause malaria attack during the morning and afternoon.
-Causes
Parasite that causes malaria called plasmodium. There are 170 species of plasmodium, but only four that cause malaria in humans:
-P. falciparum, a species that is widely available in Africa and causes severe symptoms.
-P. vivax, a species that is widely available in the tropical regions of Asia.
-P. malariae, is widely available in Africa and can remain in the bloodstream without causing any symptoms for several years.
-P. ovale, is widely available in western Africa.
Risk Factors Affected by Malaria
Those who have low immunity against malaria has a greater risk. This is in contrast to those living in endemic areas because it already has immunity against malaria.
They are at risk malaria, among others :
- Children and babies
- Travelers coming from areas with no malaria
- Pregnant woman and her fetus.
Prevention and Treatment Method
There is no effective vaccine against malaria, In endemic countries prevention is to keep mosquitoes from humans by wearing insect repellent or mosquito nets.
Prevention
Usually the government did foging (fumigation) in malaria endemic areas. But we can also do the following precautions:
- Avoid mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing
- Use anti-mosquito cream
- Installing anti-mosquito nets
- If you will be travelling to a place where a lot of mosquitoes threatening, consult your doctor
- Don't leave the house after dusk
- To spray insect repellent in the house, especially bedroom and toilet.
Don't forget, keep their own health by eating nutritious food and regular exercise to boost the immune system and prevent attacks of malaria.
