Malaria is caused by a parasite and is transmitted from the bite of an infected female mosquito. Mosquitoes breed the parasite after biting a person infected with malaria, which is then transmitted to other people who are bitten. Malaria is a common disease in more than 100 countries worldwide, and 3.4 billion are at high risk of contracting the disease. About 300 million people are infected globally each year, and of that, one to three million will die. The most vulnerable victims are children with weak immune systems, and malaria is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. The best way to treat malaria is to determine if you have it, and then seek help.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Recognizing Malaria
Step 1. Watch for symptoms of malaria
There are some common symptoms when you have malaria. When you are sick, you may have experienced one or more of them. These symptoms are:
- High fever that ranges from 38 to 40°C
- Cold and shivering
- Headache
- Sweating
- Can't remember identity and location
- Confusion
- Body pain
- Gag
- Diarrhea
- Yellowing of the skin, or jaundice, which occurs when red blood cells break down
Step 2. Know the places where malaria is transmitted
There are some parts of the world that are particularly vulnerable to malaria, which are called malaria endemic countries. These countries cover most of Africa except for the northernmost and southernmost areas, the southern and central areas of South America, India and the surrounding area, and the countries of the Pacific islands. Malaria is also present, but not endemic, in parts of Asia, western Mexico, and most areas of Central America.
- Although endemic, malaria is rarely found in areas high above sea level and deserts, except in oases. Malaria is also rare during cold weather.
- Areas near the equator are always hot all year round, and that means malaria is more concentrated and residents of the area can catch it at any time.
Step 3. Wait until the symptoms are felt
The incubation period, which is the period before symptoms of the disease appear, usually lasts 7 to 30 days from the time you are bitten by an infected mosquito. There are several types of malaria parasites that go undetected and do not cause symptoms for up to four years after a mosquito bite. During this time, the parasite is in the liver, but will eventually attack the red blood cells.
Step 4. Get a diagnosis
You can be diagnosed with malaria wherever you are. Doctors can recognize and recognize the symptoms. For diagnostic purposes, your blood will be drawn and evaluated under a microscope. The doctor will check for parasites in the red blood cells. This test is very definitive because you can see the parasites live inside the blood cells.
- The test is complicated by individuals who fall victim to another tropical disease while being immune to malaria.
- In the United States, doctors are not trained in tropical medicine so 60% of malaria diagnoses are missed.
Step 5. Watch out for cerebral malaria
Cerebral malaria is a late-stage manifestation of malaria. Malaria parasites are able to enter the blood-brain barrier which is one of the worst problems in malaria. Victims of cerebral malaria may be in a coma, have convulsions, be unconscious, behave abnormally, and experience changes in sensory reception.
Visit the hospital immediately if you think you have cerebral malaria
Method 2 of 2: Preventing and Treating Malaria
Step 1. Take precautions
There are steps that can be taken to prevent malaria, particularly in countries where malaria is common. When working or sleeping outside the house, use mosquito nets. Mosquito nets will keep mosquitoes away from biting you. Also, try to get rid of or avoid standing water. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Make sure you also use plenty of mosquito repellent if you plan to spend time outside without curtains or mosquito nets.
Step 2. Take preventive medication
If you are going to an area prone to malaria, see your doctor at least four to six weeks before departure. Doctors will prescribe drugs that prevent malaria to help reduce the chances of transmission.
The drug should be taken before, during, and after returning from a trip
Step 3. Treat malaria
The key to treating malaria is early detection. Seek a doctor's diagnosis within 24–72 hours after you suspect infection or when symptoms begin to appear. There are many medications that can be used, which must be taken for a minimum of seven days. However, the length of time you take your medication depends on the severity of your case and how widespread the malaria is in your body. All malaria drugs are safe for children. Your doctor will likely prescribe the following medications:
- Mefloquine
- Atovaquone-proquinal
- Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine
- Quinine
- Clindamycin
- Doxycycline
- Chloroquine
- Primaquine
- Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, but its effectiveness has not been confirmed
Step 4. Seek immediate medical care
If you live in a country that is not prone to malaria, such as the United States, you should be especially vigilant. If you have a fever after traveling to a malaria-endemic area, visit the ER or doctor's clinic immediately. Tell them where you have come from and that you suspect you have malaria so that you can be treated immediately.
- Delay in diagnosis can lead to death. About 60% of diagnoses are delayed because doctors mistake malaria for another disease. To prevent misdiagnosis, share the places you visited in the last year or two.
- If you catch malaria, you will be hospitalized so that your doctor can administer antibiotics properly.
Tips
- Congenital malaria can be transmitted from pregnant women to the fetus in the womb, but cannot be transmitted through breast milk.
- You should rest and sleep to help the body's natural immune function. Lack of sleep is linked to weakened immunity and prolongs the recovery process.
- Malaria cannot be transmitted by touch. So, don't worry you will get infected just by touching.
- There is a recently approved vaccination for pediatric patients in malaria endemic areas in Africa. Through agencies such as UNICEF, the vaccine holds promise in preventing malaria deaths in Africa. In further trials, this vaccine may also be approved for use in adults.
