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What causes malaria, how severe it is and how to protect from the disease?

Posted on: 07/Oct/2017 11:36:32 AM
When it is monsoon season, Malaria becomes a problem of concern. Whether you are old or young, you will have to be concerned about the disease, importantly when your area is highly populous with mosquitoes.
 
The National Vector Borne Disease Control Program states that in India, in 2016, there were a total of 7,16,213 malaria cases reported. Out of this, 331 patients died because of the complications of the disease.
 
Protection against the disease
Have an avid view about the common symptoms and signs of the disease so that you can sense it before it gets too serious. The symptom however varies from one victim to the other. Some of the symptoms you should be alert about are chills, high fever, vomiting, nausea, profuse sweating, muscle pain, bloody stool, anemia and convulsions.
 
Cause of malaria
Malaria is basically a life-threatening disease. It gets transmitted through infected female Anopheles mosquito that contain Plasmodium parasite. Tropical and subtropical climatic regions have these in common, as they are ideal for the parasites. Further, at the time of birth, the disease is also possible for the mother to pass it on to baby.
 
How does the parasite affect?
When the infected mosquito bites a human, the plasmodium parasite passes on to the bloodstream of the individual. It gets reproduced inside the bloodstream and start destroying blood cells. For you to observe the symptoms, it may take about two or three days.
 
What are the steps to take when you observe malaria symptoms?
When any of these malaria symptoms above mentioned are observed, immediately consult a doctor. A few blood tests and physical tests may be needed for determining whether you have malaria.
 
Know that there are several types of malaria. Hence, there will be variations in the treatment method with variations in cases, because a few strains of parasites will be reluctant to few kinds of drugs.
 
What gives rise to severe malaria attack?
If your body does not have very strong immune system, or when your body already has drug-resistant parasite, malaria can turn life-threatening. It will start with swelling of blood vessels in brain, thus causing cerebral malaria. This may even lead to pulmonary edema where fluids get accumulated in lungs. This will lead to failure of kidney and liver and you can observe drastic dwindling of blood sugar levels, thus leading to long term damage to your body.
 
Precautions for malaria
For malaria, there is so far no vaccination. All that you should do is be preventive from mosquito bites. Make use of mosquito bat or other natural mosquito repellent methods. Close windows and doors before the evening hours. Mosquito nets can be of best use to protect you from the danger of malaria. Cover your body with full hand sleeves and full length pants. Make sure there is no stagnant water inside or around your home. Clear the content of air coolers as it is one of the major places for breeding of mosquitoes.
 
Be precautionary and stay protected from malaria.