MALARIA AND YOU.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that’s typically transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Not all mosquitoes transmit malaria, specifically; it has to be an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites a human, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

When the parasites get into the body, they travel to the liver, where they grow and mature. After several days, the mature parasites enter the bloodstream and start infecting the red blood cells. In 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to burst open. This causes symptoms that occur in cycles that stay or lasts two or more days.

Malaria parasites lives majorly in subtropical areas and that’s why people that lives there suffer from it majorly.

Apart from direct contact with an infected anopheles mosquito, malaria can be transmitted through blood. An infected mother can also pass the disease to her baby at birth. This is known as congenital malaria. Malaria can also be transmitted through:

• an organ transplant
• a transfusion
• use of shared needles or syringes.

SYMPTOMS:

The symptoms of malaria normally develop within 10 days to four weeks following the infection. In some people, symptoms may not develop for several months usually due to the individuals immune system strength. Some malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant for long periods of time. Common symptoms of malaria include:

• shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• anemia
• muscle pain
• convulsions
• coma
• bloody stools

PREVENTION:

Malaria has no vaccine available for prevention. Talk to your doctor if you’re traveling to an area where malaria is common or if you live in such an area. You may be prescribed medications to prevent the disease. These medications are the same as those used to treat the disease and can be taken before, during, and after your trip.

Sleeping under a mosquito net may help prevent being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Keeping a clean environment plays a big role in staying away from anopheles mosquitoes. This breed of mosquitoes strive well in a dirty environment, water logged areas, areas with stagnated waters etc.

Clear bushes around your surroundings, they breed mosquitoes.