Dr Tasaduq Itoo
Malaria is a disease that is usually caused by mosquito bites from mosquitos that carry malaria parasites.
Recognizing the symptoms of Malaria
Diagnose malaria
You can be diagnosed with malaria no matter where you are. There are doctors that know and can recognize the symptoms all over the world. To get diagnosed, a single drop of blood will be taken and evaluated under a microscope. The doctor will check for the presence of the parasite inside your red blood cells. This is the most definitive test, since you can actually see the live parasite in your blood cell.This is complicated by individuals falling victim to other tropical diseases while being immune to malaria.
Watch for a high fever
One of the primary symptoms that is so common with a malarial infection is a high fever, at least 102°F (38.9°C). It’s also one of the first symptoms to appear as early as seven days (although usually between 10-15 days) after getting bitten by an infected mosquito. Often the fever comes and goes randomly.The fever and other initial symptoms may be mild and mimic less serious viral infections, such as the common cold and influenza.Usually symptoms don’t appear for about two weeks after being bitten.
Take notice of severe shaking chills.
The other primary symptom of malaria is severe shaking chills with intermittent periods of sweating. Again, shaking chills are typical of many other types of infections, but they are usually more pronounced and severe with malaria. They can cause teeth to chatter and even prevent sleep. When they’re severe, the shaking can be mistaken for seizures. The chills from malaria are usually not remedied by blanket cover or by wearing warmer clothes.Although the primary symptoms of malaria typically begin within a few weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito, some types of malarial parasites can lie dormant in the body for up to a year or more.
Look out for headaches and muscle pains.
Secondary and less specific symptoms of malaria are moderate-to-severe headaches, often combined with mild muscle aches. These secondary symptoms often occur a short while after the above-mentioned primary symptoms as the parasite needs a little more time to proliferate in the liver and spread around the body in the bloodstream. Headaches and muscle aches are also very common with most other infections, as well as from the bites of other insects and spiders.The bites from female Anopheles mosquitoes are not very noticeable (a small, red, itchy bump), unlike the bites of some other insects and spiders that can cause similar symptoms.The initial headaches of malaria are typically dull in nature (like a tension headache), but as the parasites start to infect and destroy red blood cells, they can become pounding in nature (more like a migraine).The achy pain is usually most noticeable in the leg and back muscles because they are larger, more active and get more of the infected blood.
Be suspicious of vomiting with diarrhea.
Other non-specific secondary symptoms of malaria are vomiting and diarrhea, multiple times per day. They often occur in combination with each other, which mimics the initial symptoms of food poisoning and other bacterial infections. The main difference is that the vomiting/diarrhea caused by food poisoning fades away within a few days, whereas it can remain for a few weeks with malaria (depending on treatment).Unlike the explosive and bloody diarrhea of some bacterial infections, particularly Shigella, there’s usually no blood or severe cramping with malaria.
Recognize the advanced symptoms.
If the advancing primary and secondary symptoms don’t prompt the infected person to seek medical attention and get treatment (which may not be possible in the developing world), then symptoms begin to appear that signify serious injury / damage to the body. When these advanced symptoms of malaria appear, the risk of health complications and death significantly increase.
Confusion, multiple convulsions, coma and neurological impairment indicate brain swelling and injury (Cerebral Malaria)
Severe anemia, abnormal bleeding, deep labored breathing and respiratory distress indicate advanced blood infection and lung involvement.
Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes) is evidence of liver damage and dysfunction.
Kidney failure
Liver failure
Shock (very low blood pressure)
Enlarged spleen.
PREVENTING MALARIA
Use a mosquito net. Mosquito nets are lightweight, tightly-woven nets that keep mosquitoes out of your tent or bed at night. Set the net up over your sleeping area each night before you go to sleep. You can also use them to cover any open windows or doors. Get dressed inside your mosquito net in the morning. Make sure to check it regularly for tears. You might want to bring an extra net as a backup. Buy mosquito nets treated with permethrin for the best protection.
Keep doors and windows closed.
If possible, you should keep doors and windows tightly sealed while you’re indoors. People who sleep outside or are exposed to the outdoors at night are at much higher risk of contracting malaria.You may not be able to close the doors and windows if you’re in a very hot, muggy place. Whether you can or not, use a mosquito net over your bed for added protection.
Wear long pants and sleeves. You’ll reduce the number of mosquito bites you get if you wear long pants and sleeves while you’re out and about during the day.Bring high-quality lightweight clothing that will allow your body to breathe while protecting you from bites.
TREATING MALARIA
Contact your medical professional. Regardless of whether you’re showing symptoms, you should always let your doctor know immediately when you’ve travelled to a high risk area. While those in high-risk areas sometimes “wait and see” if uncomplicated malaria will progress, people in low-risk areas should not. If you feel sick and are worried you were exposed to malaria, see a doctor right away. It’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Get treatment. Many medications that you can take, which will be taken for a minimum of seven days. However, the length of time you need to take the medications will vary depending on the severity of your case and how much the rest of your body has been affected. All malaria medications are safe for children. Possible medications you may be prescribed include:
Mefloquine, Atovaquone-proquinal, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, Quinine, Clindamycin, Doxycycline, Chloroquine, Primaquine, Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine.
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