Why are we scared of mosquitos? They are tiny creatures who bite us. Their bites don't seem to cause much harm, but do you know that they carry diseases? One of the diseases caused by mosquito bites is MALARIA. Let us learn - what is malaria, how does it spread, and what is its impact?
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites (and not viruses or bacteria) and passed from person to person by mosquito bites. The infection leads to chills, fever, and other flu-like symptoms, and in some cases, malaria can be fatal (usually when left untreated). Anyone can get malaria. Most cases occur in people who live in countries with malaria transmission. People from countries with no malaria can become infected when they travel to countries with malaria (ex. Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, etc.). Malaria is a highly prevalent infection, affecting over 200 million people worldwide per year.
We now know that people get malaria by being bitten by a mosquito. But, not every mosquito can cause Malaria. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by infective female mosquitos of the genus Anopheles. These are the only mosquitoes that can transmit malaria.
Anopheles mosquito
Five species of single-celled parasites, called Plasmodium, can infect humans and cause illness. Those are:
Another way malaria can be transmitted is through blood transfusion, organ transplant, or the shared use of needles or syringes contaminated with blood. That is because the malaria parasite is found in the red blood cells of an infected person.
Malaria may also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn infant before or during delivery. This is called “congenital” malaria.
Malaria is not a contagious disease. It is not spread from person to person like some other infectious disease (ex, flu). Also, it can not be sexually transmitted.
Climatic factors such as temperature, humidity, and rainfall are crucial for malaria. Malaria is transmitted in tropical and subtropical areas, where Anopheles mosquitoes can survive and multiply, also the Malaria parasites can complete their growth cycle in the mosquitoes. A critical factor is the temperature. For example, at temperatures below 20°Celsius (68°Fahrenheit), Plasmodium falciparum (which causes severe malaria) cannot complete its growth cycle in the Anopheles mosquito, and thus cannot be transmitted.
Malaria signs and symptoms typically begin within a few weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. They include:
Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells.
Some people who have malaria experience cycles of malaria "attacks." An attack usually starts with shivering and chills, followed by a high fever, followed by sweating, and a return to normal temperature.
When these signs and symptoms occur, reliable diagnostic tests can confirm whether you have an infection caused by the parasite. There are several blood tests that can aid in the diagnosis of malaria, but Malaria is definitively diagnosed by a microscopic examination of a blood sample.
Malaria can be cured with prescription drugs. The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on the type of malaria, where the person was infected, their age, whether they are pregnant, and how sick they are at the start of treatment.
Can Malaria Be Prevented?
Malaria can often be prevented by the use of antimalarial drugs and use of protection measures against mosquito bites, like:
