🦟 Malaria: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
⚕️ What is Malaria?
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites from the Plasmodium family. It spreads through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Once inside the body, the parasites travel to the liver, multiply, and then infect red blood cells.
Malaria is especially common in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
🔎 Symptoms of Malaria
Symptoms usually appear 10–15 days after the mosquito bite. Common signs include:
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🤒 High fever (often in cycles)
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❄️ Chills and sweating
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🤕 Headache and body aches
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😴 Fatigue and weakness
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🤢 Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
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🩸 Anemia (due to destruction of red blood cells)
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🧠 Severe cases: seizures, confusion, or organ failure
❗ If untreated, malaria can become severe and fatal.
⚠️ Causes & Risk Factors
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The most dangerous type is Plasmodium falciparum, which can cause severe illness.
You’re at higher risk if you:
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🌍 Live in or travel to malaria-prone regions
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🛡️ Lack access to preventive medicines or nets
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👶 Are a young child or 👵 an elderly adult
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🤰 Are pregnant (malaria can be more severe during pregnancy)
🩺 Diagnosis of Malaria
Doctors diagnose malaria using:
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💉 Blood smear test (microscope check for parasites)
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🧪 Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)
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🧑⚕️ Clinical symptoms and travel history
💊 Treatment of Malaria
Malaria can be cured with proper medicines, but treatment depends on the type of parasite:
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💊 Antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), and quinine
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🏥 Hospitalization in severe cases (organ failure, cerebral malaria)
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🩸 Supportive care like fluids and oxygen therapy if needed
❗ Completing the full course of medicine is essential to avoid relapse.
🛡️ Prevention of Malaria
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🦟 Use insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs)
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🏠 Spray indoor insect repellents
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🧴 Apply mosquito repellent creams
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💉 Take preventive antimalarial medicines when traveling to high-risk areas
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💧 Drain stagnant water (to stop mosquito breeding)
🌟 Outlook
Malaria is preventable and curable, but without treatment, it can be deadly. Global campaigns focus on mosquito control, vaccines, and better access to medicines to reduce malaria cases worldwide.