What you need to know about malaria
Why does a person get malaria?
You should know that malaria is caused by a type of microscopic parasite. A mosquito becomes infected by feeding a person with malaria. You should know that this mosquito can transmit malaria parasites if it bites you in the future.
Malaria is a type of febrile illness caused by a parasite called plasmodium. In particular, it is seen in humans through the bite of female anopheles mosquitoes. People with malaria often appear to feel very sick with high fever and chills. While the disease is very rare in temperate climates, malaria is still common in tropical and subtropical countries.
You should know that the malaria parasite is resistant to many of the common drugs used to cure its disease. In cases of long-term malaria, the liver and spleen enlarge and can cause jaundice and anemia. It can be seen as respiratory complaints and even pneumonia.
Except for malaria, mosquito bites; It is seen that it is transmitted to humans by blood transfusion, organ transplantation, grafts and the common use of contaminated syringes or needles.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is viewed as a type of febrile illness caused by a parasite called plasmodium. People with malaria often feel very sick with a high fever and chills.
You should know that while the disease is very rare in temperate climates, malaria is still common in tropical and subtropical countries.
Many malaria parasites are resistant to the most common drugs used to treat the disease. In cases of long-term malaria, the liver and spleen enlarge, and then jaundice and anemia may develop. Respiratory complaints and even pneumonia may begin. Except for malaria, mosquito bites; It is seen that it is transmitted to humans by blood transfusion, organ transplantation, grafts and the common use of contaminated syringes or needles.
Causes of malaria viruses
Malaria is usually caused by microscopic parasites. We all know that the parasite is transmitted to humans mostly through mosquito bites.
Method of transmission of mosquitoes
A mosquito becomes infected by feeding a person with malaria.
We see that this mosquito can transmit malaria parasites if it bites you in the future.
After entering the body, the parasite goes to the liver, where it can stay dormant for up to 1 year.
When malaria parasites mature, they leave the liver and infect red blood cells and go away. This is defined as when people typically develop symptoms of malaria.
Also, if an uninfected mosquito bites you at this point in the cycle, it is seen as infecting the malaria parasites, causing it to spread them to other people it has bitten.
Another way of interacting: Because the parasites that cause malaria affect red blood cells and exposure to infected blood, it is possible to contract malaria. Malaria spreads from mother to unborn child in conditions such as blood transfusions.
Risk Groups in Malaria
The biggest risk factor for the development of malaria is living in or visiting areas where the disease is present.
People at risk of particularly severe illness; young children and infants, older adults, people from malaria-free areas, pregnant women and their unborn children are identified as those with poverty, lack.
About malaria symptoms
The incubation period of the malaria virus is defined as an average of 7 days. As it is known, it is seen as a type of acute febrile illness. Symptoms of malaria include; fever, chills, headache, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain and fatigue, sweating, chest and abdominal pain, coughing attacks are determined as the symptoms encountered at the beginning.
People with malaria experience attacks from time to time. The first indication of symptoms is usually chills, followed by high fever, sweating, and a return to normal temperature. The most common symptoms of malaria are typically a few weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. It is seen that some malaria parasites can stay asleep in the body for up to 1 year.
The characteristic of malaria is that the symptoms come in attacks. A few days before the seizure starts, there may be weakness, malaise, loss of appetite, headache, back and leg pain, and you will see that the seizure starts with chills and high fever.
It is also important to contact a doctor if anyone living in or traveling to a high-risk malaria region has symptoms of fever. You should know that the parasites that cause malaria can stay dormant in the body for up to 1 year.
How is malaria diagnosed?
You should know that in order to be diagnosed with malaria, a medical history will be reviewed, a physical exam will be performed, and blood tests will be requested. Blood tests may be known as the only way to confirm the diagnosis of malaria. Other blood tests help determine if the disease is causing serious complications. Some blood tests may take a few days to complete, while others show results very quickly.
Treatment options
Occurs when malaria is treated with prescription drugs to kill the parasite Types of drugs and duration of treatment; Depending on the type of malaria parasite, the severity of the symptoms, age and pregnancy, there may be changes.
It is clear that there is no currently approved vaccine against malaria. Because; Personal protection against mosquito bites is the first line of defense in disease prevention. Another method is determined as the use of preventive drugs against the disease.
Malaria is a medical condition that can rapidly and unexpectedly deteriorate in clinical conditions and requires immediate attention. If malaria is not treated, seizures, confusion, kidney failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, coma and death can occur.