What is Malaria?

21:55 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

Also known as malaria, malaria is a parasitic infectious disease transmitted by the anopheles mosquito through its bite, causing symptoms similar to those of the flu and anemia.

When infected, the parasites invade the liver through the blood and attack the red blood cells, multiplying in them and destroying them, making the infection more serious.

The symptoms normally appear between a week and a month after contracting the infection, although there are cases in which the parasites stay in the liver for a year and signs of infection do not appear until they attack the red blood cells.

Other forms of malaria transmission include blood transfusions and congenital (from mother to baby).

This condition continues to have a high incidence in countries with tropical and subtropical climates, constituting a danger not only for their inhabitants but also for those who travel to those places.

Every year there are about half a million cases in the world, claiming the lives of more than a million people, because mosquitoes have become resistant to insecticides and parasites to antiparasitic drugs, making it complex to control its spread and reduce the number of victims.

To prevent infection if you travel to places with a high incidence of malaria, you should wear clothing that protects your skin, mosquito repellent, insecticides, and mosquito nets. There are also preventive drugs that you can take to avoid being infected.

Signs and symptoms Malaria

It is characterized by:

  • Headache.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomit.
  • Diarrhea.
  • High fever.
  • Chills.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Muscle pains.
  • Tiredness and weakness.
  • gitation when breathing
  • Elevated heart rate.
  • Abdominal pain.
  • Coughing fits.

The population groups most susceptible to developing a serious infection are:

  • Babies.
  • Kids.
  • Pregnant women.
  • Older adults.

Possible complications of malaria include:

  • Pulmonary edema.
  • Kidney or liver failure.
  • Anemia.
  • Brain damage and swelling.
  • Hypoglycemia.

Diagnosis and treatment Malaria

In addition to analyzing your symptoms and clinical history, the doctor will perform a physical examination and request a blood test to confirm the diagnosis.

Pharmacological treatment will depend on the type of parasite that infected you, since there are several that cause malaria, although quinine has traditionally been the indicated drug and has currently been combined with others of recent appearance.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Fuentes:

  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • who.int
  • topdoctors.es
  • cigna.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Hernández RS, Chuprine SK, Carrillo CA. Actualización de malaria. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(12):1-13.
  • Jadan-Solis KP, Alban-Meneses CJ, Salazar-Carranza A, et al. Characterization of the malaria like endemic illness in Ecuador. AMC. 2019;23(4):540-558.
  • Plain PC, Pérez de Alejo AA, Domínguez PL. Malaria Recurrence: An Epidemiological Risk in Cuba. Cuba y Salud. 2018;13(3):115-118.
  • Ávila SEA, Ferrer MR, Crespo JB. Congenital malaria due to Plasmodium vivax. Report of a case. Mul Med. 2018;22(3):661-670.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.