What is Malaria?
Malaria is a tropical disease spread mainly by female Anopheles mosquitoes infected with parasites called Plasmodium. These mosquitoes tend to bite at dusk or during the night time, injecting the parasite into the human bloodstream.
What are the symptoms of Malaria?
Symptoms of malaria include a high fever, headache, sweating, chills, vomiting, muscle pains, and diarrhoea. A single bite from an infected mosquito is enough to contract the disease, but the symptoms can show up 7-18 days after being bitten.
What are the treatments for Malaria?
There is no guarantee that a malaria vaccination can prevent the disease; it can just reduce the chances. However, there are several drugs available such as Malarone, Mefloquine (branded as Lariam), and Doxycycline that can be used to treat a malarial infection.
How can I prevent Malaria?
Prevention is always better than cure so, alternatively, you can stay away from stagnant water, make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations if you are entering an area where malaria is endemic, and use insect repellents and mosquito nets as precautions.