Malaria is a serious and life-threatening disease that kills a millions of people, annually and most of them are children. It spreads through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes that hold the Plasmodium parasite. When a mosquito comes in the contact of skin, it discharged the parasite in the bloodstream.
Once the parasite is in the blood, it travels to the liver and grown-up gradually. After a few days, the grown up scrounger starts infecting the blood cells. The parasites grow with a fast speed within 48 hours to 72 hours only and it leads infected cells to rip open. When the blood cells are infected, it results in some symptoms and signs. Usually, the signs last within two to three days. Generally, the cases of malaria are found in tropical and subtropical weather conditions where the parasites can survive.
This disease can be transmitted to the baby through an inflected mother at the time of birth. This condition is called congenital malaria. It spreads through blood. If an individual uses needles or syringes that are already used by an infected person, he or she can have malaria. It can also spread at the time of organ transplant and a transfusion.
Symptoms and Signs of Malaria
Often, it takes time to understand the symptoms of Malaria. The initial symptoms are just like flue. In the initial phase, most people experience body aches, fever, mind to severe headache and more. Most people believe it is nothing, but viral or flue. Following a few days, the typical paroxysms may take place – chills, pursued initially by a high fever for a few hours. Along with the fever, people experience abundant sweating. According to type and severity of malaria, the patient may feel well between these convulsions. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and bloody stools, etc. are some other symptoms of Malaria.
All types of mataria are not alike. Some of them can be more severe than others. Also, the duration of paroxysms can be at variance according to the form of malaria. People, who are living in high material zone, should focus on the symptoms and signs.
Plasmodium Vivax, Ovale and Malariae –
It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to develop symptoms after the bite of mosquito. In some cases, it can take months for the sickness to visible itself. Some initial symptoms are –
- Mild fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- A general feeling of illness
After 3 to 5 days, the general paroxysms begin. The symptoms start with chills and than people experience fever along with sweating. These symptoms last within eight to ten hours. In between the patient may feel good for some duration of time. These symptoms happen again in every 72 hours at about the same time when the red blood burst.
Plasmodium falciparum –
These symptoms start with 10 to 35 following a mosquito releases the parasites into the bloodstream of the body. Prodromal symptoms are not usual and patients frequently have a fever between paroxysms. Some common symptoms of cerebral malaria include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Restlessness
In case of such symptoms, it is crucial to consult a specialist as early as possible!
