Malaria

General Information on Malaria

Malaria is a serious disease spread by mosquito bites caused by an infection of malarial parasites. Almost all cases of malaria in the United States are found in people who have recently traveled to or immigrated from other malaria high-risk countries, most commonly in Africa and certain parts of Europe. Rarely, malaria can be transmitted through blood transfusions, from pregnant mothers to their offspring, or from mosquito bites in the United States.

Symptoms of Malaria

Symptoms of malaria usually begin within a week to a month of the infection has been transmitted. However, in some cases, the infection may take up to a year to present with symptoms. Some symptoms include:

Fatigue
General ill feeling
Muscle Pain
Joint Pain
Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Chills
Fever with heavy sweating, followed by a drop in temperature

Treatments For Malaria

If you have recently been bitten by a mosquito or have been traveling outside of the U.S. and are experiencing symptoms similar to those listed above, its important to seek treatment immediately in order to prevent complications.

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask you questions about your symptoms and any recent traveling you may have done. Blood studies will generally indicate malarial infection, however, if complications are suspected, other tests may be conducted. Treatment will generally consist of antimalarial drugs. Hospital care may be required for more severe cases. Most patients begin to feel significant improvement just 48 hours after receiving treatment. Fever can usually be eliminated within the first three to four days.

Personal Experience

Malaria - personal experiences