Malaria is an infection in which you may get fever, chills and feel generally unwell. Although Australia is free from endemic Malaria, you can catch the disease when travelling to tropical countries.
It is life threatening and early treatment is very important. Prevention and medication is key.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is caused by an infected female Anopheles mosquito transmitting the Plasmodium parasite through a bite. The parasite multiplies in the liver, causing infections in red blood cells and symptoms within 7–30 days. There are five types of malaria parasites, but the disease is preventable and curable with early diagnosis and treatment.
Tropical countries are prone areas where malaria is more prominent. The likelihood of disease is more in warm climates, high population areas, travel between countries and places of open water such as swampy land, leaky water areas.
Preventing malaria involves avoiding mosquito bites and using antimalarial medications. Early treatment of mild infections is crucial to prevent them from progressing to severe stages.
Symptoms of Malaria
Symptoms can be mild or life-threatening, and they usually start within 10-15 days of getting bitten by a mosquito infected with malaria.
Mild malaria symptoms include:
Fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting. Those individuals who may have had a previous malaria infection tend to experience mild symptoms.
Severe malaria symptoms include:
Fatigue, confusion, seizures and difficulty breathing and kidney failure. A severe malaria infection is more likely to occur in infants, young children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, travelers and individuals with HIV or AIDS.
Treatment for Malaria
Prescription medicines can treat and cure malaria. The treatment type and duration depends on the type of malaria, the location of the lesions and the severity are all factors used to determine the treatment.
The medication is given to eliminate the infection from the bloodstream. The main antimalarial drugs are chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, primaquine and treatment period usually lasts 2 days. Along with supportive care and hospitalization in severe symptoms. In some cases of malaria, intensive care may also be required.
Prevention for Malaria
– Avoiding areas of high mosquito activity especially in the evening and late night.
– Using insect repellent and mosquito nets where possible
– Keep windows and doors closed or covered with screens to keep the mosquitoes out of the home.
– Fix any broken window meshes and door seals.
– Avoid any standing water to avoid mosquitos from laying eggs.
Vaccine
A vaccine is available for preventing malaria. It is for children who live in moderate to high risk areas such as in Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and South America, where malaria is really common. The malaria vaccine provides 30% protection after four doses and can reduce the risk of an episode by 40%.
Medication
Antimalarial drugs are about 90% effective in preventing malaria. Anyone planning to travel to malaria prone areas should begin tablets a few days before travel and must continue during the trip. Individuals who may be using medicines, should still take measures to prevent bites and limit areas where disease is more likely.
Consulting a doctor
If you have been travelling to a high-risk malaria region and experience a fever, it is important to see the doctor immediately to seek medical attention. It is best to take precautions in preventing malaria and individuals travelling should see a doctor before they embark on a journey to ensure they have the medication to cover their trip.
