Malaria: Symptoms, Treatments and Causes

What is Malaria?
Synonyms: paludismo

Malaria is an acute febrile infectious disease transmitted by the female bite of the Anopheles mosquito, infected by Plasmodium.



Causes
Streaming

Transmission occurs after the female bite of the Anopheles mosquito, infected by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. In Brazil, three species are associated with malaria in humans: P. vivax, P. falciparum and P. malariae.

The protozoan is transmitted to man by blood, usually through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, infected by Plasmodium or, more rarely, by another type of medium that puts the blood of an infected person in contact with that of a healthy person, such as Sharing of syringes (drug users), blood transfusion or even from mother to fetus in pregnancy.

 symptoms
Symptoms of Malaria
The most common symptoms are: chills, high fever (at first continuous and then every three days), headaches and muscle, tachycardia, enlargement of the spleen and sometimes delusions. In the case of P. falciparum infection, there is also a 10-fold chance of developing what is called cerebral malaria, responsible for about 80% of the lethal cases of the disease. In addition to the current symptoms, there is slight stiffness in the nape of the neck, sensory disturbances, disorientation, drowsiness or excitement, convulsions, vomiting and headaches, and the patient may experience coma.


Malaria: High fever and muscle pain are the main symptoms
 Treatment and care
Malaria Treatment
The decision on how to treat the patient with malaria should be in accordance with the Manual of Malaria Therapy, edited by the Ministry of Health, and be guided by the following aspects:

Species of plasmodium depending on the species of plasmodium the patient will receive a type of treatment
Disease severity - the need for injectable drugs to act faster on the parasites, aiming to reduce lethality.
Malaria Medications
The most commonly used drugs to treat malaria are:

Clordox
Doxycycline
Only a doctor can tell you which drug is most appropriate for your case, as well as the correct dosage and duration of treatment. Always follow your doctor's advice and NEVER self-medicate. Do not stop using this medication without first consulting a doctor and if you take it more than once or in much larger quantities than prescribed, follow the instructions in the package insert.


Prevention
Individual prevention measures: use of mosquito nets impregnated or not with insecticides, clothes that protect legs and arms, screens on doors and windows, use of repellents.

Collective prevention measures: drainage, small sanitation works to eliminate vector breeding sites, landfill, cleaning of the banks of breeding sites, modification of water flow, control of aquatic vegetation, improvement of housing and working conditions, rational use of land .