With the arrival of summer comes the notorious disease Malaria. Malaria is quite common, preventable and curable, but it can be severe if not treated promptly. According to a report by World Health Organisation (WHO), there were 241 million cases of malaria recorded worldwide in 2020.
To raise awareness about Malaria and make the world malaria free, WHO has marked April 25 as World Malaria Day. This year's theme for World Malaria Day is "Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives".
Female Anopheles, responsible for the disease, carry the infection known as the plasmodium parasite. It breeds in water bodies like puddles, borrows pits, riverbed pools, seepages, wells, pond margins and sluggish streams. According to experts, this mosquito bites between dusk and dawn in most cases.
Although everyone is prone to Malaria, it affects moreyoung children, non-immune pregnant women, people with immune-compromised conditions and travellers from endemic areas. Malaria is transmitted by blood so it can also be transmitted through organ transplantation, used syringes and needles.
According to Healthline, signs of malaria show up in 10 days to 4 weeks. In some cases, symptoms may also not develop for several months. Some of the common symptoms of malaria are headache, high fever, shaking, chills, muscle pain, diarrhoea and anaemia. Coma, bloody stool, organ failure, swelling of the blood vessels and accumulation of fluid in the lungs are some of the symptoms of severe cases.
Malaria can be diagnosed by looking out for the below-mentioned points:
● The doctor will check your travel history
● The doctor will also review your health history
● A physical exam will also be done to check symptoms like muscle pain
● The doctor will also prescribe a blood test
Here is how you can prevent it:
● Apply mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin
● Put up mosquito nets around the beds
● Keep your windows and doors close, especially with mesh doors
● Wear long pants and long sleeves to cover your skin
● Try to maintain hygiene and cleanliness around the plant
● Make sure there isn’t stagnant water around the house
If you or anyone in your surroundings experience such symptoms, visit the doctor for a diagnosis on time.
