Malaria - Medtick
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Malaria

What is it?

A life-threatening disease.

  • It’s typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite.
  • When this mosquito bites you, the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

www.healthline.com

Further link (Regional information)

  • One needs to read the information to see when malaria is at its highest and/or lowest rates and in which specific areas/regions at the time of season.
  • Please click on the link ‘Fit for Travel’ below on the section ‘Detail Information’ below for further information.

Countries where condition is found:

Africa

Middle East

Asia

Australasia and Pacific

Caribbean

North America

Central America

South America

Europe & Russia

Fit for Travel

Cause

  • Mosquito bites are caused by a parasite called plasmodium by the female mosquito: Anopheles mosquito

Five types of disease:

  • Parasite: Plasmodium Falciparum:
    • The most serious and can cause deaths.
    • Symptoms develop within seven to fourteen days (can be longer) of mosquito bite (Africa).
  • Parasite: Plasmodium Vivax:
    • Less serious than Falciparum malaria symptoms develop twelve to eight days but stays longer up to 3 years in body causing malaria symptoms some time later (Asia, Central & South America).
  • Parasite: Plasmodium Ovale:
    • Like Vivax malaria symptoms develop twelve to eight days but can  stay long in body. Less serious than Falciparum malaria. (Africa).
  • Parasite: Plasmodium Malaria:
    • Rare, less serious than falciparum malaria. (West Africa).
  • Parasite: Plasmodium Knowles:
    • Rare, less serious than falciparum malaria (South East Asia)

Spreading of malaria:

  • Newborn Babies – Transmission from their mother
    • Some babies may be born with malaria infection, acquiring the parasite from the mother, and not from a mosquito vector.

Treatments

  • Blood Transfusion
    • Blood donor who has acquired an infection but may not have symptoms yet

Symptoms

Symptoms can develop within seven days or even up to  three years later:

  • Flu- like symptoms?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats (fever can become like a hot and cold phase every forty-eight hours ,hot phase lasts two to six hours , cold phase with shivering lasts one quarter to one hours) longer than 72 hours?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Balance and dizziness problems?
  • Sore throat for seven days or more?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Diarrhoea?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

If pregnant or planning to get pregnant

This condition can lead to:

  • Premature birth  ( birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy)
  • Low birth weight
  • Restricted growth of the baby in the womb
  • Stillbirth
  • Miscarriage
  • Death of the mother

This condition has been associated with:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Malaria in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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