Home Health Care Knowing More About Malaria; Prevention, Signs and Symptoms and Answer to Some FAQS

Knowing More About Malaria; Prevention, Signs and Symptoms and Answer to Some FAQS

by Juan D. Vanpelt

Malaria is a prevalent disease in many areas of the world, and you need to know about it, especially if you love traveling around the world. Let’s dive into some aspects of malaria that you should understand;

Definition of Malaria

It is a disease that can be fatal and spread through parasites that affect mosquitoes, and they are Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale. Malaria is a disease that affects many nations, especially third-world countries, draining their economy.

Malaria

Prevention

Over recent years, malaria disease has declined due to efforts to help educate people on combating malaria effectively. Some habits that help reduce malaria include getting rid of stagnant water and mosquito repellents.

It is important to note that malaria spread does not happen human to human, but the mosquitoes spread this disease from a human to another; hence, all efforts to prevent malaria are geared toward eradicating the vectors.

Companies such as Vectorcide International Ltd have developed. They are geared to ensure they contain malaria by developing innovative ways using technology to get rid of mosquitoes.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of malaria start occurring after 1-4 weeks after infection. Some parasites may not be active until after several months or even four years, and when they are active, you start experiencing the symptoms.

The symptoms you may experience include fever, headache, flu-like illness, vomiting, nausea, and tiredness. As the disease develops, one may suffer from anemia, and it can become severe, leading to coma and death.

Diagnosis

Malaria can quickly develop from a mild fever to a life-threatening disease, and that’s why it needs to be diagnosed early. The best sure way of confirming that you have malaria is by visiting a medical practitioner.

If there is suspicion of malaria, a laboratory test will be performed immediately. In the test, a sample of your blood will be checked using a microscope, and if there are any traces of malaria parasites, you will undergo treatment.

Protecting yourself when traveling

If you are traveling to places where malaria is prevalent, you should protect yourself against infection. Anti-malaria drugs can help prevent malaria, and you can get them from a healthcare provider.

It is essential to get the drug from a qualified practitioner to get the one that best suits you because you may take a medication that may cause harm to your body.

Is there a malaria vaccine?

The malaria parasite complexity presented a challenge when developing a malaria vaccine, but it was introduced a year ago. The vaccine is being used to help offer extra protection from malaria.

Bottom Line

Malaria can be severe if it is not diagnosed early. The good news is that you can protect yourself by carrying out specific preventive measures. If you love traveling, you are at a higher risk of getting malaria so take care of yourself.

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