Malaria – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments

Malaria – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments with Medicines. In addition, Malaria , also called malaria, malaria or maleita, is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes and caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium.

The disease is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which introduces microorganisms present in its saliva into the host’s circulatory system, which are deposited in the liver , where they mature and reproduce.

Malaria manifests itself through symptoms such as fever and headache , which in severe cases can progress to coma or death. The disease is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions along a wide band around the equator, encompassing much of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and America.

Causes / Transmission of Malaria:

Transmission occurs after the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, infected by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. In Brazil, three species are associated with malaria in humans: P. vivax, P. falciparum and P. malariae.

The protozoan is transmitted to humans through blood , usually through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, infected with Plasmodium or, more rarely, by another type of means that brings the blood of an infected person into contact with that of another healthy person, such as the sharing syringes (drug users), blood transfusions or even mother-to-fetus, in pregnancy.

Main Symptoms of Malaria:

Infection with Malaria can take up to 17 days to appear after the mosquito bite, but in some cases these symptoms can take a few months to appear:

• Fever above 38ºC;
• Sweats and chills;
• Strong headache;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Muscle pain throughout the body;
• Weakness and constant tiredness;
• Yellow skin and eyes;
• Severe tremors that can last from 15 minutes to 1 hour.

Most of these symptoms can be difficult to identify as a sign of malaria , so it is important to go to the doctor to diagnose the disease and start the appropriate treatment, especially if you are in a place where malaria is frequent, such as in the Amazon region. and Africa, for example.

In addition, these symptoms can appear in cycles, that is, they appear every 48 hours or 72 hours, depending on the microorganism that is infecting the body. This is due to their life cycle as they develop, reproduce and fall into the bloodstream .

Malaria treatment:

The decision on how to treat a patient with Malaria must be in accordance with the Malaria Therapeutics Manual , edited by the Ministry of Health, and be guided by the following aspects:

• Species of plasmodium depending on the species of plasmodium the patient will receive a type of treatment
• Severity of the disease – due to the need for injectable drugs with faster action on the parasites, aiming to reduce lethality.

Medicines for Malaria:

The most commonly used drugs for the treatment of Malaria  are:

• Clordox
• Doxycycline

NOTE: Only a doctor can tell you which drug is most suitable for you, as well as the correct dosage and duration of treatment. Always follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter and NEVER self-medicate. Do not stop using the drug without consulting a doctor first, and if you take it more than once or in much larger amounts than prescribed, follow the instructions on the package insert.

Malaria Prevention: 

Individual prevention measures: use of mosquito nets impregnated or not with insecticides, clothes that protect legs and arms, screens on doors and windows, use of repellents. Collective prevention measures: drainage, small sanitation works to eliminate vector breeding sites, landfill, cleaning the banks of breeding sites, modifying the water flow, controlling aquatic vegetation, improving housing and working conditions, rational use of land .