Malaria
Malaria is a serious disease and can be fatal for sufferers. This disease occurs due to protozoan parasites. Transmission of this parasite is from mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical areas. When the mosquito bites, it transmits a parasite that attacks red blood cells.
There are several types of malaria parasites that infect humans, namely Plasmodium Falciparum, P. Vivax, P. Ovale, and P. malariae. In addition, P. knowlesi, a type of malaria that naturally infects monkeys in Southeast Asia, can also infect humans and cause the disease to be transmitted from animals to humans (zoonotic malaria).
- falciparumis the type most likely to cause severe infection and, if not treated promptly, can be fatal. People who get the disease usually feel very sick with a high fever and chills.
If not treated promptly, this condition can cause serious health problems, such as seizures, brain damage, difficulty breathing, organ failure, and death. However, you can prevent this disease in various ways.
Symptoms of Malaria
Signs and symptoms of malaria can include:
- Fever.
- Chills.
- A general feeling of discomfort.
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Stomach ache.
- Muscle or joint pain.
- Fatigue.
- Rapid breathing.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Cough.
Some people with the disease experience a cycle of malaria “attacks.” Attacks typically begin with chills and shivering, followed by high fever, followed by sweating and a return to normal temperature.
Signs and symptoms usually begin to appear within a few weeks after an infected mosquito bites. However, some types of the parasite can lie dormant in your body for up to a year.
Causes of Malaria
More specifically, this disease occurs due to the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. You can also Get to Know the Anopheles Mosquito That Causes Malaria further in the article.
Well, among the parasitic species that cause malaria in humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax are the biggest threats.
After entering the human body, the parasite will travel to the liver, multiply, and attack the red blood cells that carry oxygen.
After entering the blood, the parasite will lay eggs and multiply until the red blood cells burst. If this happens, the body’s condition will experience pain from before.
The disease cannot be transmitted from person to person, but it can spread in the following ways:
- From a pregnant mother to her unborn baby.
- Sharing needles.
- Blood transfusion.
- Organ transplantation.
Risk Factors
Mosquitoes that cause this disease can survive in tropical and subtropical climates. That’s why people who live in these areas are at risk of experiencing this disease.
Areas that include tropical and subtropical areas include:
- Africa.
- Central and South America.
- Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other areas in the Caribbean.
- Eastern Europe.
- South and Southeast Asia.
- Islands in the Central and South Pacific Ocean (Oceania).
Types of Malaria
There are several types of malaria which are distinguished based on the type of parasite, namely:
1. Plasmodium vivax (Pv)
This is the most common type of malaria and is most prevalent worldwide. While it is not fatal, it can be very debilitating to the immune system. Symptoms include:
- Fever and chills.
- Diarrhea.
- Severe fatigue.
2. Plasmodium ovale (Po)
This is one of the rarest types of malaria. Cases are mostly found in Western countries, such as Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and Liberia. Symptoms include:
- High fever and chills.
- Joint pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Pain all over the body.
Malaria tends to relapse because the parasite can remain in the liver for up to four years. Relapses can occur at any time during that period.
3. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)
This type of malaria is known as tropical malaria. This subspecies of the parasite is found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. People with tropical malaria will experience symptoms such as:
- Nauseous.
- Fatigue.
- Body aches.
- Enlarged spleen.
- Pain in the abdomen, muscles, and joints.
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Anemia.
- Confusion.
- Convulsions.
Symptoms of tropical malaria that are left untreated can cause problems in the brain and nervous system. Disorders can also cause paralysis and severe seizures if not treated with the right steps.
4. Plasmodium malariae (Pm)
This is a rare form of malaria. The prevalence of cases is less than one percent of the total. The parasite that causes it is common in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Symptoms include fever and chills that do not improve.
5. Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk)
This type of malaria is found in primates and can infect humans. The parasite is commonly found in nature in long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques. Symptoms are similar to Plasmodium malaria but can progress rapidly to serious disease.
Malaria Diagnosis
There are several steps that a doctor will take to diagnose malaria, including:
1. Medical interview
Medical interview to collect relevant medical information about the patient’s medical history. Including current complaints, medical history, and travel history to malaria-endemic areas.
2. Physical examination
Next, the doctor will perform an oral examination to see the common physical symptoms in the patient. If not sure, the doctor will perform a supporting examination.
3. Supporting examinations
Supporting examinations can see the presence of malaria-causing parasites in the blood. The procedure includes:
- Blood test. This involves examining a blood sample under a microscope to find the parasite causing the infection.
- Rapid diagnostic test (RDT). The procedure uses a blood sample to detect antigens from the malaria parasite.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Its purpose is to detect the DNA of the malaria parasite and the severity of the infection.
- Other laboratory tests. Including red blood cell count, parasite count, and determination of parasitemia levels to help assess the severity of infection.
Malaria Treatment
This disease can be cured with medication. The type of medication and the length of treatment for malaria depend on the type, where the person is infected, age, whether or not they are pregnant, and how sick they are at the start of treatment.
The most common antimalarial drugs include:
1. Chloroquine phosphate
Chloroquine is the treatment of choice for any parasite that is sensitive to the drug. But in many parts of the world, the parasites are resistant to chloroquine, and the drug is no longer an effective treatment.
2. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT)
ACTs are combinations of two or more drugs that work against the malaria parasite in different ways. They are usually the treatment of choice for chloroquine-resistant malaria. Examples include artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem) and artesunate-mefloquine.
3. Other common antimalarial drugs
These include atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone), quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) with doxycycline (Oracea and Vibramycin), and primaquine phosphate.
Complications of Malaria
Complications can occur within hours or days of the first symptoms. It is important to seek urgent medical help as soon as possible if:
1. Anemia
Destruction of red blood cells by malaria parasites can cause severe anemia.
2. Cerebral malaria
In rare cases, the disease can affect the brain. This is called cerebral malaria, which can cause the brain to swell.
This can sometimes lead to permanent brain damage, seizures, or even coma.
3. Respiratory problems
Fluid that collects in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can make it difficult to breathe.
4. Organ failure
The disease can also damage the kidneys or liver or cause the spleen to rupture. Any of these conditions can be life-threatening.
5. Low blood sugar
Severe forms can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), such as quinine – a common drug used to combat malaria.
Very low blood sugar can cause coma or death.
6. Central nervous system problems
These complications can occur due to Plasmodium falciparum. The parasite infects the central nervous system and triggers neurological disorders, such as seizures, confusion, and even paralysis.
Other complications
Other complications that can arise from severe malaria include liver failure, sudden drop in blood pressure, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hypoglycemia, kidney failure, swelling and rupture of the spleen, and dehydration.
The disease can also recur. Some varieties of the malaria parasite, which usually cause a milder form of the disease, can persist for years and cause relapses.
Malaria Disease Prevention
You can prevent transmission by increasing awareness and concern for the risk of mosquito bites and environmental cleanliness.
If you live in or are traveling to an area where malaria is common, take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
Malaria mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself from mosquito bites:
- Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck in your shirt, and tuck your pant legs into your socks.
- Apply mosquito repellent to the skin.
- Apply mosquito repellent to clothing. Sprays containing permethrin are safe to apply to clothing.
- Use a mosquito net, especially one treated with an insecticide, such as permethrin, to help prevent mosquito bites while you sleep.
If you are traveling to an area where the disease is endemic, talk to your doctor several months in advance about whether you should take medication before, during, and after your trip to help protect you from the malaria parasite.
In general, the drugs taken to prevent malaria are the same as the drugs used to treat the disease.
However, it also depends on where and how long you travel and your own health condition.