What are the 5 types of malaria?
5 Plasmodium (single-celled parasite) species might infect
humans and cause illness:
- Plasmodium falciparum parasite (or P. falciparum)
- The malaria parasite Plasmodium malaria (or P. malaria)
- Vivax Plasmodium (or P. vivax)
- ovale Plasmodium (or P. ovale)
- Plasmodium expertise (or P. knowlesi)
Falciparum malaria has the potential to be fatal. Severe
falciparum malaria can cause liver and renal failure, convulsions, or coma.
Infections with P. vivax and P. ovale, while rarely severe, normally produce
less significant sickness; nonetheless, the parasites can remain inactive in
the liver for so many months, causing symptoms to resurface months and perhaps
even years later.
What
are the symptoms of malaria disease?
Malaria symptoms can be similar to those of many other
infections caused, by viruses, or parasites in the initial stages. It could begin
with flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms could include:
- Fever. The common symptom
- Chills
- Headache
- Sweats
- Fatigue
- Nausea as well as vomiting
- Body aches
- Generally feeling sick
People who are infected multiple times may have the disease yet
show no or little symptoms. The severity of malaria symptoms varies based on
your age, overall health, and the type of malaria parasite that have.
Malaria can cause altered brain or spinal cord function,
convulsions, or loss of consciousness in rare situations. Malaria infection can
be fatal in its most severe forms.
Whenever symptoms first appear
The gestation period (the time between the initial malaria
infection and the appearance of symptoms) is usually 7 to 30 days. However,
symptoms of sickness from some parasite species may not develop for months
following exposure. For example, you could have a fever up to a year after
visiting a malaria-infested country.
If you are on anti-infective medication, the incubation
period may be extended. If you have considerable immunity from past illnesses,
your symptoms may be milder, or you may have none at all.
Symptoms can manifest in cycles. The period between episodes of fever and other symptoms varies depending on the parasite infection.
What
causes malaria parasite
Malaria is contracted when a mosquito infected with parasites
bites you and transmits the parasite to you. Malaria cannot be acquired
simply by being in the presence of someone who has the disease.
Malaria is transmitted when a person is bitten by an
infected Anopheles mosquito. It's the only variety of mosquitoes capable of
transmitting malaria. The mosquito gets infected when it bites an infected
person and draws blood containing the parasite. The individual who is bitten by
the insect becomes infected.
How is
malaria diagnosed in the laboratory?
Your doctor will ask your health-related questions and do a
physical exam. If your doctor suspects you have malaria, they will perform
a blood smear to test for the condition. A blood sample is deposited on a glass
slide, prepared, and examined under a microscope during this test.
A blood smear test can aid in the diagnosis of malaria. It
can also assist a doctor in determining the type of malaria parasite you have
and the number of parasites in your blood. This can aid with therapy
selections.
If the initial blood smear does not reveal malaria, your
doctor may order additional tests every 12 to 24 hours.
A blood test that can swiftly identify malaria also is
available. If the findings of this quick test indicate malaria, the effects are
typically confirmed with such a blood smear.
When you've been in a malaria-endemic area and get a fever
up to a year later, your doctor can test you for malaria. If the tests do not
reveal malaria, you may require additional testing to ensure that you are not
infected with malaria. During therapy, tests are repeated to track the
progression of the infection and to determine whether the treatment is
effective.
How is
malaria treated or cured
Malaria can be treated with medication. Several factors
influence medicine selection. They are as follows:
- If the drug is used to prevent or treat malaria
- Your situation (such as your age, your health, or whether you are pregnant)
- How ill are you from malaria?
- If indeed the malaria parasite is resistant to specific medications.
- The medication's side effects
Your age and health status are essential considerations when
choosing malaria prevention or treatment medication. Pregnant women,
children, the elderly, persons with other health issues, and those who did not
take malaria prevention medication require special consideration.
With severe cases of malaria, exchange of blood transfusions
may be considered. They are the most effective method of parasite removal. The
blood is drawn at the same moment that you get donor blood. You will also be
given medication to treat the infection.
If you are traveling to a place where there is no
medical care, you can get medicine before you leave & carry it with you. If
you develop malaria symptoms, your doctor will teach you on how to use the
medication.
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