What is Malaria?
Malaria is a parasitic infection that presents as a severe flu-like illness. It is caused by various species of the Plasmodium parasite, which are transmitted by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. The mosquito passes the parasite into the bloodstream, where it infects and destroys red blood cells.
The name “malaria” comes from the Italian words “mala” and “aria,” which mean “bad air.” This name was given to the disease because people used to believe that the illness was caused by breathing in bad air from swamps and marshes. Malaria was once thought to have been caused by “miasma,” a poisonous gas believed to rise from the ground and cause illness. It wasn’t until the 1880s that researchers discovered the true cause of the disease: the Plasmodium parasite.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Depending on the stages, malaria may present with the following symptoms:
- Headache
- High-grade Fever (Body temperature >38ºc) and chills (feeling cold at the palms and feet)
- Muscle ache
- Fatigue (feeling tired).
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Discolored urine (Orange, reddish-orange or yellow)
How is malaria spread and how can it be prevented?
Malaria is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. When a mosquito bites a person, it secretes its saliva into the blood, which contains the malaria parasite. Other less common modes of transmission include blood transfusion, organ transplants, and sharing of infected needles.
Symptoms of malaria usually appear within 7 to 30 days after receiving an infected bite. However, antimalarial prophylaxis can delay the appearance of symptoms by a week or even months, especially in cases where the parasite lies dormant in the liver.
To prevent malaria, it’s essential to take measures that reduce exposure to mosquito bites. This includes using insecticides either as a spray or burnt coil, applying mosquito repellants to the skin, and wearing long-sleeved clothing that covers the arms and legs. Sleeping under an insecticide-treated net is also highly recommended.
In addition, it’s important to keep the environment clean and free of stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. This can be achieved by clearing bushy areas and removing sources of stagnant water such as blocked gutters or empty containers. Installing insect-proof nets on windows and doors can also prevent mosquitoes from entering living spaces and spreading the parasite through bites.
Use chemoprophylaxis!
This entails using medications to prevent the parasite from completing its cycle and manifesting as a disease. Some of these medications include pyrimethamine, sulphadoxine, proguanil etc.
However, 100% protection is not guaranteed.
What should I not do if I get infected?
- Do not self-medicated on Antibiotics!
Malaria is not caused by bacteria so taking antibiotics may seem ineffective and a waste of time and resources.
- Consider antimalarial medication and if you feel you have malaria, comply with your prescribed medications: Ensure you take your medication for the total prescribed duration even though your symptoms have disappeared before the completion of your medication. If you forget or skip any dose, seek advice from your healthcare provider.
Is there a malaria vaccine?
For now, NO. There is currently no vaccine in the market for the treatment of malaria although there is one vaccine still being tested via clinical trials in seven African countries with positive results.
Malaria is a serious health concern, and several common misconceptions surround it. Here are some myths and facts about malaria that you should be aware of:
Myths and Facts about Malaria
| Myths | Facts | |
| Malaria is only transmitted by mosquitoes. | While female Anopheles mosquitoes are the primary transmitters of malaria, they can also be transmitted through blood transfusions. | |
| Malaria can be cured with antibiotics. | Malaria is caused by a parasite, not bacteria, so antibiotics are not effective in treating it. However, antimalarial drugs can be used to treat it. Unfortunately, there is growing concern about resistance to these drugs. | |
| Malaria is not a serious disease. | Malaria can be a life-threatening disease, particularly if left untreated or if the person has other health conditions that weaken the immune system. | |
| Malaria only affects people who live in tropical areas. | Although malaria is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas, it can be found in over 100 countries worldwide, including some temperate regions such as parts of Europe and the United States. | |
| Staying in a nice hotel with air conditioning will protect you from mosquitoes and malaria. | While air-conditioned rooms can reduce the risk of being bitten at night, there is still a chance that mosquitoes can enter the room. It is important to take extra precautions and use anti-malarial drugs if you are in a high-risk area. | |
- Humans are not the only ones who can get malaria. The disease can infect several other animals, including birds, apes, and rodents.
- Malaria is the third largest killer of children between the ages of one month and five years
- Countries that have achieved at least 3 consecutive years with no local cases of malaria are eligible to apply for certification of malaria elimination. In the last decade, 6 countries have been certified as having eliminated malaria. They include; Kyrgyzstan(2016), Sri Lanka (2016), Morocco (2010), Armenia (2011), Maldives 2015 and Turkmenistan 2010
- Nigeria is the leading country among the four African countries that contribute to half of the world’s malaria mortality (deaths).
References
* Malaria. Centre for Disease Control website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/malaria/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2021.
* Malaria. EBSCO DynaMed s website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/malaria Accessed April 23, 2021.
* Malaria and travellers for US residents. Centre for Disease Control website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2021.
* Malaria prophylaxis for travellers. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/prevention/malaria-prophylaxis-for-travelers. Accessed April 23, 2021.
* 10 facts about malaria. The Borjen project https://borgenproject.org/10-facts-malaria/
* Ten things you didn’t know about malaria. UNICEF https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-malaria
* Misni N, Nor ZM, et al. Repellent effect of microencapsulated essential oil in lotion formulation against mosquito bites. J Vector Borne Dis. 2017;54(1):44-53.
* Mosquito avoidance. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/prevention/mosquito-avoidance. Accessed February 8, 2021.