What is Malaria?
And 7 Ways To Avoid Getting It
And 7 Ways To Avoid Getting It
Mosquitos (and perhaps malaria) are one of life’s great mysteries. They buzz around like bad smells, and when you least suspect it, they attack. One little painless prick can cause endless itching and don’t you dare scratch. It’ll only lead to mild relief.
But while many mosquitos are relatively harmless, some carry malarial parasites. And unfortunately, one bite from these bloodsuckers can result in malaria (a fairly unpleasant disease).
The severity of the illness ranges from person to person. Some people experience very mild symptoms, while others are violently ill. Malaria can even be life-threatening, particularly to children under five and those with compromised immune systems.
So, do you need to worry about the little bugs buzzing around your ear and driving you crazy? Not necessarily. Read on to learn more about malaria, where you are most likely to contract malaria, and how to treat it.
We’ll cover the following topics
- What is malaria?
- Who is most at risk of contracting malaria?
- What are the symptoms of malaria?
- What causes malaria?
- Treating malaria
- How to prevent malaria
- Next steps
What is malaria?
Malaria is a serious infection resulting from a mosquito bite. It can lead to severe illness and sometimes death. The female Anopheles mosquito carries parasites from an infected host and passes them on.
It commonly occurs in warm tropical areas close to the equator, like Central and Southern Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, and some parts of Oceania, like Papua New Guinea.
In Namibia, malaria is present throughout the year but is at its highest between November and June in the north and north-eastern regions. The risk of contracting malaria is at its lowest in the southern parts of Namibia, including the Skeleton Coast.
Here are three ways you can get malaria:
- Being bitten by an infected mosquito.
- Through a blood transfusion.
- Sharing used needles.
- A pregnant mother infected with malaria can transmit the parasites to her unborn baby.
Malaria isn’t contagious. You can’t transmit malaria by kissing or holding hands. It’s not like the flu virus or a cold. It can only be transmitted through blood.
Who is most at risk of contracting malaria?
Anyone can become infected with malaria. But those most at risk of developing severe malaria are children under five years of age, infants, pregnant women, and people living with HIV/Aids in impoverished areas. These are rural areas where people don’t have access to clean drinking water or medical care.
Every year, over 600,000 people die from malaria, most of whom are children under five. If you live in or are travelling to a malaria area, please take preventative measures. There is a vaccine and medication that you can take.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Are you worried that you or a loved one may have malaria? These are the common signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Drowsiness
- Chills
- Fever
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Aches and pains throughout the body
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Dehydration
- Anaemia
Once an infected Anopheles mosquito bites you, it can take between 7 days and four weeks for the first symptoms to occur. Malaria can make you very ill, with some adults and many children (especially malnourished children or those with compromised immune systems) needing to be hospitalised.
Unfortunately, it can also reoccur without warning. This is known as P. vivax and P. ovale. During a malaria attack, you may experience chills, excessive sweating, and a high temperature (or fever). It can rapidly develop into a life-threatening illness if not treated correctly and quickly.
Contact your doctor if you’ve recently travelled to or live in a malaria area and are currently experiencing any symptoms listed above. Alternatively, call Welwitschia Hospital on (+264) 64 218 911 or email hello@welwitschiahospital.com to schedule an appointment. You can also find a doctor here.
What causes malaria?
When a female Anopheles mosquito bites someone infected with malaria, small amounts of the malaria parasites are absorbed into her bloodstream. During her next feed, these microscopic parasites then mix with her saliva and are injected into a new host.
These parasites will travel to your liver, where they may lie dormant for up to a year. Once matured, they leave the liver and travel into the bloodstream, attaching to red blood cells. At this stage, the host begins to show symptoms of infection.
Treating malaria
The fastest way to confirm you have malaria is to take a blood sample. If you have malaria parasites, these will show up under a microscope.
Malaria is treated with antimalarial drugs administered intravenously, via injection, or through the mouth. The quicker malaria can be diagnosed, the better.
How to prevent malaria
It only became available towards the end of 2021, but you can now get the malaria vaccine. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that anyone living in or travelling to sub-Saharan Africa receive RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine.
There are other preventative measures that you can take to avoid contracting the parasites. We advise the following:
- Start taking antimalaria tablets before you travel and throughout your journey.
- Sleep under a mosquito net. This is a light mesh netting that covers your bed.
- Cover yourself with tabard or some other form of insect repellent cream in the early hours of the morning and at night. This is when mosquitos are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to reduce your chance of being bitten.
- Invest in a USB mosquito killer lamp. This LED lamp is not harmful to children and works a charm.
- Keep the fan on. For some reason, it keeps the buzzing beasts at bay.
If you happen to fall ill, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. Your treatment plan will be determined by your age, what type of malaria you’ve contracted, how sick you are, and if you’re pregnant.
Malaria most often reoccurs in patients who haven’t been treated, so please speak to your doctor about what medication to take.
Next steps
If you live in Namibia or have plans to travel to sub-Saharan Africa in the near future, get the malaria vaccine or at least take antimalarial medication.
Malaria is a horrible illness that can make you incredibly sick, and yet it is preventable. Speak to your doctor about antimalarial medication.
Alternatively, contact Welwitschia. You can find a doctor here.
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