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Malaria Cause, Prevention and Treatment

Apr 26, 2022

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. A person can get malaria when bitten by an infected mosquito, the mosquito injects malaria parasites into the person’s bloodstream. Malaria should be treated urgently. If it isn’t treated, it can cause severe health problems such as seizures, brain damage, trouble breathing, organ failure, and death.

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria symptoms include:

A high temperature, sweats, and chills
Headaches
Feeling very tired and sleepy (especially in children)
Tummy pains and diarrhea
Appetite loss
Yellow skin and whites of the eyes
Pains in the muscles
Sore throat, cough, and difficulty in breathing

Malaria symptoms usually appear within 7 and 18 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, time- taken to manifest symptoms may vary depending on parasite type, immunity, among other factors.

Malaria Prevention and Treatment

To reduce and prevent malaria infections, take any antimalarial medicine prescribed for you, days or weeks before you go to a malaria-endemic community, until a few weeks after you get back.

sleep under mosquito nets treated with insecticide.
wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers to cover your arms and legs in the evening, when mosquitoes are most active.
Put screens on windows and doors.
Treat clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags, and other fabrics with an insect repellent called permethrin.
keep your environment clear of stagnant or polluted water
If symptoms appear, ensure a test is done to enable fast diagnosis and treatment.

Join the VMC in the fight against malaria. Click HERE