Malariarelated

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito, which then feeds on people. The parasite infects the mosquito when it bites an infected person. People get malaria when an infected mosquito bites them. The malaria parasite is passed to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria is not contagious from person to person.

Symptoms of malaria typically appear 10 to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, malaria can lead to anemia, respiratory distress, organ failure, coma, and death. The most dangerous type of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which is prevalent in many parts of Africa.

Malaria is preventable and curable. Prevention strategies include using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, and taking antimalarial drugs. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for a good outcome. Antimalarial drugs are used to treat malaria. The effectiveness of these drugs depends on the type of malaria parasite and the drug resistance patterns in the area where the infection was acquired. Global efforts to combat malaria focus on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, aiming to reduce the burden of this disease, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.