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Malaria
Malaria is a serious disease caused by Anopheles mosquitoes. While the disease may be fatal, it is treatable with prompt treatment.
There are four types of malaria that a human can be infected with:
- Plasmodium faciparum
- Vivax
- Ovale
- Malariae
Affected Areas:
Malaria occurs in over 100 countries and more than 40% of the world’s
population is at risk. Large areas of Central and South America, Haiti,
Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and
Oceania are considered to be malaria-risk areas.
- The World Health Organization estimates that 300 – 500 million cases of malaria occur annually and more than 1 million people die of the disease.
- There are approximately 1200 cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
- Most of these cases are prevalent in immigrants and travelers who are returning from malaria-risk areas.
- There is generally less risk of malaria at altitudes above 1500 meters (4500 feet).
Symptoms:
There are several tell-tale signs or symptoms which may indicate you
have been infected with the disease. They include:
- Fever of 38°C or over (often intermittent)
- Chills (sweating and shivering)
- Headache
- Aching muscles and joints
- Abdominal pains and diarrhea
- Repeated vomiting
- Anemia
- Jaundice (because of loss of red blood cells)
- Tiredness and fatigue
Improper treatment of any type of malaria may result in kidney failure, seizure, mental confusion, coma, and or death.
For most, the symptoms begin between 10 days to 4 weeks after initial infection. In some instances, however, people can feel ill as early as eight days, or as late as one year, following the initial contamination.
Malaria is identified by doing a thick blood smear. The blood sample should be taken when the patient has a fever, since parasites can only be detected during this time. The test must be done by an experienced specialist.
The parasites which cause this disease may remain dormant in the liver for many months, which can cause a reoccurrence of symptoms months or years later. Two types of malaria, Vivax and Ovale can relapse. This is possible because the parasites may remain dormant in the liver for many months up to four years after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. When the parasite comes out of hibernation, they begin invading the red blood cells and the person will become sick.
Any traveler to the tropics should seek reliable advice on the risks of his or her own destination, and it is vital to obtain up-to-date advice before each trip.
Treatment and Prevention:
Of course, there is treatment for the disease with prescription drugs.
The type of drug and length of treatment depends on several factors including:
the type of malaria, where the patient was infected, the patient’s
age, and how severely ill the patient was at the start of the treatment.
When traveling to areas in which malaria is present, Centers for Disease control recommend using anti-mosquito measures, such as repellents or mosquito nets (both of which are available through our Order form). Avoiding the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes is the best way to prevent infection and using such repellents and nets are very helpful. These mosquitoes usually bite only between dusk and dawn. There is no vaccine against the disease but anti-malarial medication is often recommended.
The types of diseases vary with each destination. After browsing through this site you may also call or email Travel Health Help for more detailed information: 1-888-621-3952
