How To Cure Malaria?

05/04/2022

Some shocking facts about malaria: 

As listed above, malaria is a treatable condition that can happen to anyone without any evident indications. However, facts reveal that people living in Africa are more likely to get it than the rest of the world. While the chances of death are higher in people who belong to the following groups: 

• Young children 

• Pregnant women 

• Older adults 

According to the collected data, over 90% of cases of malaria occurred in Africa. On the other hand, people who are more likely to face death due to it are children. In 2020, over 80% of deaths occurred in children below five years. 

• In the year 2021, approximately 247 million cases of malaria were recorded throughout the world. This year, more than half of the world's population was at risk of coming across malaria. 

• In the year 2021, the African region became home to the highest number of cases and deaths associated with malaria. As mentioned above, malaria is more common in tropical and subtropical regions. 

• In addition to the above, this medical condition, i.e., malaria, is very rare in the USA. Around 2,000 malaria cases make their way to the USA every year.

What is malaria? 

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that can happen when one is bitten by a mosquito infected with a tiny parasite. While biting, it transmits the malaria parasite into one's bloodstream. It is important to note that parasites are responsible for malaria, not viruses or bacteria. 

If it is not treated or diagnosed at the right time, it can lead to severe outcomes like seizures, trouble breathing, brain damage, and even death. Therefore, whenever you are diagnosed with this condition, you must opt for proper treatment under the supervision of a healthcare specialist. 

WHO says this medical condition is way more common in tropical and subtropical regions. Nonetheless, it came out as a treatable and preventable disease. The most common way of avoiding getting infected with malaria worldwide is using insecticide-treated bed net (ITN). In the year 2016, 54% of people prone to encounter this medical condition used ITN in sub-Saharan Africa.

The intensity of the malaria symptoms will rely on the severity of the condition. You may encounter mild symptoms if you get diagnosed at an early stage. On the contrary, the symptoms might worsen if you delay to seek medical help.  

What are the most common symptoms of malaria? 

The symptoms and their intensity usually vary from one patient to another. However, as per studies, the most common malaria symptoms are fever, chills, and headache. It is noteworthy that the symptoms of malaria may take up to around 12 to 15 days to be evident after getting infected.  

Mild symptoms of malaria:  

• Chills

• Headache

• Fever 

• Muscle ache 

• Tiredness

• Nausea

• Vomiting 

• Diarrhea  

Severe symptoms of malaria: 

• Kidney failure

• Seizure 

• Coma 

• Mental confusion 

• Brain damage 

• Death 

If you encounter any serious symptoms of malaria, you should seek medical attention immediately without any delay. You can prevent symptoms from worsening by undergoing treatment as early as possible. 

What precautions should you follow to prevent malaria? 

As listed above, malaria is treatable and preventable. By following some precautionary measures, you can decrease your chances of getting infected with it. In case you are planning to hit those places where the rate of getting infected with malaria is high, you must consult your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may direct you to chemoprophylaxis or other similar medication. However, you are not supposed to take any medicine without the doctor's consent. Doing so can be harmful. 

Let's dive into other possible ways to prevent yourself from mosquito bites: 

• Make sure you wear a protective layer of clothing 

• Go for the window screen 

• Utilize mosquito coil and vaporizers

• Buy mosquito repellents 

• Avoid sleeping and sitting in an open area 

• Opt for mosquito nets while sleeping if you are around an area where mosquito is present 

• Vector control 

• Chemoprophylaxis 

• Preventive chemotherapies 

Before you proceed with any medical treatment, you must refer to your doctor to know whether it suits you. 

Who is more prone to malaria? 

Malaria is one of the common diseases that can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. However, people who are residing in Africa have more chances of encountering it. On the other hand, pregnant women, children, and older adults also have a greater chance of coming across it, irrespective of the country. 

According to facts, more than 90% of cases and deaths associated with malaria happen in Africa. Therefore, if you are from there, you need to be careful and vigilant. Studies unveil that malaria is more common in those countries where the temperature is warm and humidity is high. The following counties record the highest number of malaria cases as compared to the rest of the countries:  

• Africa

• South Pacific Ocean and Islands in the Central

•  (Oceania)

• Eastern Europe

• South and Southeast Asia

• Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other regions in the Caribbean

• Central and South America

How is malaria diagnosed? 

It would help if you reach out to your doctor as soon as you start having symptoms. If you delay meeting the doctor, the symptoms may start worsening. Therefore, seek medical attention immediately to minimize the risk factors. When you contact your doctor, your doctor will comprehensively check your health status along with your travel history. Your doctor will also suggest you undergo a physical exam for easy diagnosis. 

In case you have an enlarged spleen or liver, your doctor will be able to find out. Along with this, you will be asked for some additional blood tests to confirm whether it is malaria or something else. 

The bottom line: 

Malaria is a common medical condition that can happen to anyone. However, to prevent yourself from getting infected, you must follow the necessary precautions. If you are planning to travel to any tropical or sub-tropical region, take mosquito repellents and required medications with you. 

FAQs:

1. What are the primary methods for preventing malaria?

As listed earlier, there are certain people who are more prone to getting infected with malaria, such as people living in tropical or sub-tropical regions, older adults, pregnant women, and children. If you are someone who falls under the risk category, you must follow the precautions listed below stringently to avoid mosquito bites.

• Use mosquito repellents

• Cover your sleeping bed with a mosquito net

• Wear protective layering of clothes

• Put screens on windows and doors

2. How effective are bed nets in preventing malaria?

CDC says if more than half of the community starts using the ITN beds, the life expectancy and number of mosquitos will be reduced significantly. This strategy will help prevent malaria from spreading to anyone, even those not using it. According to studies, ITN effectively reduces the malaria risk by 24%.

3. Can I get vaccinated against malaria?

There are two approved vaccines available for malaria. However, before you opt for any, you must ask your doctor. The doctor will comprehensively check your health status to confirm whether it is safe for you or not. The following are the WHO-approved vaccines:

• R21/Matrix-M

• RTS,S/AS01