Malaria – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Malaria prevention relies on several important tools:

• Preventive medications taken before, during, and after traveling to high-risk areas.
• Insecticide-treated bed nets that create a protective barrier against mosquitoes while sleeping.
• Protective clothing that covers arms and legs to reduce skin exposure to mosquito bites.
• Insect repellents containing DEET or other approved ingredients.
• Malaria vaccine now recommended for children in countries with high malaria rates.

Many healthcare providers offer pre-travel consultations to assess risk and provide appropriate preventive measures. Some malaria parasites have developed resistance to common treatment drugs, so prevention is especially important.

Main Signs and Symptoms

People with malaria may show several key symptoms. These often include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Muscle or joint pain
• Feeling very tired
• Fast breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Cough
• General discomfort

Many patients experience what doctors call malaria “attacks.” These attacks follow a pattern: first shivering and chills, then a high fever, and finally sweating as body temperature returns to normal.

Symptoms usually appear within a few weeks after an infected mosquito bite. However, some types of malaria parasites can hide in the body for up to a year before causing symptoms.

When to See a Doctor

Contact your doctor right away if you have a fever after visiting or while living in an area where malaria is common. Malaria symptoms need prompt medical attention.

Seek emergency care immediately if you experience:

• High fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe headache
• Extreme fatigue

Don’t delay treatment if you suspect malaria, as early intervention greatly improves outcomes.

What Causes Malaria

How Mosquitoes Spread Malaria

Malaria begins with a mosquito bite. The disease comes from a tiny parasite called Plasmodium. When a mosquito carrying this parasite bites a person, the parasite enters their body.

Not all mosquitoes can spread malaria. Only certain types, mainly the female Anopheles mosquito, carry the parasite. These mosquitoes often bite between dusk and dawn, which is why using bed nets at night helps prevent malaria.

How the Malaria Parasite Works in Humans

When a person gets infected, the malaria parasite follows a specific path in the body:

1. First Bite: An infected mosquito bites a person and injects the parasite.
2. Journey To the Liver: The parasite travels through the bloodstream to the liver.
3. Hiding Period: In the liver, parasites multiply and can stay hidden for days or even up to a year.
4. Attack on Blood Cells: Once ready, parasites leave the liver and attack red blood cells.
5. Symptoms Appear: When parasites destroy red blood cells, the person starts feeling sick.
6. Spread Continues: If another mosquito bites an infected person, it picks up the parasite and can spread it to others.

Other Ways Malaria Spreads

While mosquitoes cause most malaria cases, the disease can spread in other ways:

• From Mother to Baby: A pregnant woman with malaria can pass the parasite to her unborn child.
• Through Blood: People can get malaria through blood transfusions if the donor has the parasite.
• Shared Needles: Using the same needles as someone with malaria can transfer infected blood.

These non-mosquito cases are much less common but are still important to know about.

Risk Concerns

Several groups face higher chances of getting seriously ill from malaria:

• Young babies and children
• Elderly people
• Visitors from places without malaria
• Pregnant women and their babies

The problem gets worse in countries where people can’t easily get:

• Mosquito nets and sprays
• Medical treatment
• Health information

Many people in these areas struggle to protect themselves and get help when sick.

People who live in areas with lots of malaria sometimes develop some protection against the disease. Their bodies learn to fight the parasite, making symptoms less severe when they get infected.

This protection isn’t complete, though. If someone moves away from a malaria area, their body’s defense against the disease can weaken over time.

When they return or visit another malaria region, they might get just as sick as someone who has never had malaria before.

Health Complications

Malaria can pose serious health risks, especially when caused by certain plasmodium species found in Africa. About 94% of all deaths from malaria occur in Africa, with young children under 5 years old being the most affected.

Several dangerous complications can arise from malaria infections:

• Brain Involvement: When infected blood cells block vessels in the brain, swelling and damage can occur. This may lead to seizures and coma.

• Breathing Difficulties: Fluid buildup in the lungs makes breathing hard.

• Organ Damage: The disease can harm the kidneys and the liver or cause the spleen to rupture, creating life-threatening situations.

• Blood Problems: Malaria often causes anemia, which means there aren’t enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body.

• Blood Sugar Drops: Severe malaria can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels. Some malaria medications may also lower blood sugar, potentially leading to coma or death.

Some types of malaria parasites can stay in the body for years. These forms typically cause milder symptoms but can trigger the disease to come back multiple times.

When this happens, a person might feel well for months or even years before experiencing symptoms again.

Ways to Protect Against Malaria

Taking steps to avoid mosquito bites is important if you live in or travel to areas where malaria is common. Mosquitoes that spread malaria are most active from sunset to sunrise. Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Wear covering clothes. Choose long pants and shirts with long sleeves. Make sure to tuck your shirt into pants and pants into socks.

• Use bug spray on skin. Apply EPA-registered repellents on exposed skin. Options include products with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD, or 2-undecanone.
  • Avoid spraying directly on your face. Don’t use products with oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD on children younger than 3 years.

• Treat your clothes. Permethrin sprays can be safely applied to clothing for added protection.

Preventive Medications

If you plan to visit an area where malaria is common, speak with your doctor several months before your trip. They can recommend preventive medications to take before, during, and after travel.

The medications used to prevent malaria are typically the same ones used to treat the disease. Your doctor will choose the right drug based on:

• Your destination
• Length of your stay
• Your health condition

Taking these medications correctly can significantly reduce your risk of infection.

Malaria Immunization

A malaria vaccine has been recommended by the World Health Organization for children living in countries with high malaria rates. This represents an important step forward in fighting the disease.

Scientists continue to work on developing and testing new malaria vaccines. These research efforts aim to create more effective ways to prevent infection and reduce the global burden of this disease.