2020 reports suggest that around 241 million people contracted malaria in the year, and over 627,000 people died from it. The numbers are enough to explain why Malaria is considered a life-threatening disease. A mosquito-borne blood disease, Malaria is caused by the Anopheles mosquito, which carries a parasite called Plasmodium. The parasite then multiplies in the host’s liver, leading to many symptoms and can result in death in some cases. World Malaria Day, celebrated on April 25 each year, focuses on raising awareness surrounding the disease. In 2022, the theme behind World Malaria Day is “Harness innovation to reduce malaria disease burden and save lives.” With the rapid propagation of the disease in Africa and South-Asian countries, India ranks sixth on the list. Despite the harrowing statistics, Malaria is a treatable condition with early diagnosis. This article will explore more about Malaria, the causes, symptoms, and the prevention tips for the same.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a mosquito-borne blood disease spread by one of the five types of Plasmodium vectors. The infection rapidly spreads in the patient's liver when an infected Anopheles or Plasmodium mosquito bites the patient. Once the infection enters the bloodstream, it directly travels to the patient’s liver, further multiplying in number. Once the infection spreads, it starts destroying the natural red blood cells in the patient’s bloodstream. The disease is prevalent in countries in Africa, Central, and South America, Dominican Republic, South Asia, and the Central and South Pacific oceans. The availability of the vector parasites is abundant in tropical countries. Although quite rare, malaria exists in the United States, accounting for around 2000 active cases every year. However, over the years, the alarming cause of climate change has contributed to increased Malaria cases in the U.S.

What are the Causes of Malaria?

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease. So, the infection is spread through an active mosquito bite, where the parasite (Plasmodium) is injected into the patient’s bloodstream. Five different types of Anopheles mosquito carry the Plasmodium parasite. However, it is the female Anopheles mosquito bites that lead to Malaria. Here’s what happens after the patient is bit by the Anopheles mosquito:

• The Plasmodium parasite enters the bloodstream and relocates to the liver, multiplying in uncontrollable numbers.
• Once the parasite grows excessively in the liver, the excess malaria parasites are released into the bloodstream, which directly attacks the red blood cells, destroying them.
• It takes around 7-30 days after the active infection for the patient to start noticing the symptoms. This is one of the reasons why the disease is often diagnosed later when the parasite has already infested the patient’s system and bloodstream.

In rare cases, some malaria parasites remain dormant in the patient’s liver and become active vectors after full-recovery of the patient. This leads to the recurrence of the disease.

What are the Symptoms of Malaria?

The symptoms of malaria will vary, especially in intensity. While some patients have typical symptoms like fever, chills, and headache, others experience severe symptoms. Depending on the symptoms, Malaria is further categorized into two types – Uncomplicated Malaria and Severe Malaria. Let us walk you through the symptoms of each kind:

Types of Malaria
Uncomplicated Malaria	Severe Malaria
Symptoms
Fever	Severe anemia
Chills	Blood in the urine
Sweating	Impaired consciousness
Headache	High acid reflux
Nausea, and vomitting	Impaired cognition and behavior
Body aches	Seizures
Enlarged liver	Coma
Mild jaundice	Issues with blood clotting
Weakness	Liver failure
Fatigue	Kidney failure
Breathing issues	Hypoglycemia
	Spleen rupture
	Pulmonary edema
	Acute respiratory distress syndrome

  Besides these symptoms, some patients experience Malaria relapses, as we talked about before. There are treatments available to combat such complications too.

How is Malaria Diagnosed?

Given the severity of the condition, early diagnosis of Malaria is crucial for the patient’s treatment and recovery. Despite being on anti-malarial drugs, the symptoms can recur up to a year after the infection. The basic diagnosis for malaria involves:

• A complete blood count test to check if the person is anemic
• Rapid diagnostic testing to check for active parasites in the blood
• Thorough microscopic laboratory testing of the blood cells to check for malarial parasites

If you have been in areas with risks of malaria or you are noticing symptoms of malaria, it is crucial to seek a doctor’s consultation immediately. Earlier diagnosis allows earlier treatment administration, which supports the healing and recovery of the patient.

How is Malaria Treated?

Once diagnosed, the treatment for malaria should start immediately without any delay. Delayed treatments give the parasites in the blood more time to multiply and further destroy the red blood cells in the body. The treatment depends on the malaria parasites actively found in the blood. Some anti-malarial drugs include:

• Artemisinin drugs
• Chloroquine
• Atovaquone
• Doxycycline
• Quinine
• Mefloquine

The duration of the treatment will depend on the severity of the condition and how much the infection has spread in the blood. Most anti-malarial drugs come with a few side effects, including:

• Gastrointestinal complications
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Ringing in the ears
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Vision problems
• Fatigue and lethargy, etc.

If you are on medications for any other chronic diseases, consult about the same with your doctor for the correct administration of every drug through the treatment process.

Prevention Tips for Malaria

Malaria prevention tips can prevent all these complications that you read about until now. Despite the advancements in the medical field, the disease still claims millions of lives each year. So, the best way to avoid this life-threatening disease is by opting for preventive measures. Here are a few tips that can help:

• Avoid storing water in and around the house. Since mosquitoes have a habit of breeding in water, excess standing water will lead to a surplus mosquito population around you.
• If you are traveling somewhere with reportedly higher malaria cases, discuss the same with your doctor to take the proper precautions. This involves taking anti-malarial tablets before your traveling plans.
• When you are aware of the risks, ensure that you take precautions when stepping out of the house. This involves wearing full-length clothes that cover the arms and legs. You can also spray yourself with a mosquito repellent before going outdoors.
• If you live in areas with high mosquito popularity, cover the windows with mosquito nets, sleep under mosquito nets at night, etc. Using insect repellent fabrics like permethrin is also considered ideal for such diseases.

Whatever your plans are, if you notice any offbeat symptoms that could indicate malarial infection, get tested. There is no point in delaying the tests. A prompt diagnosis reduces fatality risks and enables the patients to make a full recovery with optimal treatment. Also, there are a few malaria vaccinations available globally that should be administered to children living in countries where malaria risks are high.

FAQs

Can you get a vaccine for Malaria?

Currently, there are two approved vaccines for malaria available - RTS, S/AS01 vaccine, and the PfSPZ vaccine.

Which organization established World Malaria Day?

The World Health Assembly started World Malaria Day in 2007.

Do people die from Malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to the patient's death. Early diagnosis and earlier treatment administration are thus crucial.

Conclusion

Malaria is no doubt a severe infectious disease. However, with timely diagnosis and proper treatment, a patient can make a full recovery. On the event of World Malaria Day, take a pledge to follow the preventive measures to keep the risks of this disease to a bare minimum. Instead of brushing it aside, be vigilant of the symptoms and focus on getting proper treatment on time.