Malaria Frequently Asked Questions
Malaria is a fatal infectious disease caused by a parasite. This parasite is transmitted to the human body by a mosquito bite. In other words, it is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease. Symptoms of malaria are fever, chills, headache, and vomiting.
Q1: Where does malaria occur?
Ans: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that occurs throughout the world, most notably in tropical and subtropical areas. The exact location of malaria depends on the kind of malaria parasite and the presence of suitable mosquito vectors.
Q2: When should malaria be treated?
Ans: Malaria should be treated as soon as possible after it is detected.. Prompt treatment is critical for avoiding complications and lowering the risk of serious illness or death. Treatment schedule may differ based on the severity of the infection and the type of malaria parasite involved.
Q3: Is there a malaria vaccine?
Ans: Yes, RTS,S/AS01, often known as the malaria vaccine or Mosquirix, is a malaria vaccine. It was the first and remains the only licenced vaccination for malaria prophylaxis. It should be noted, however, that the vaccination is not 100% effective and only gives limited protection against malaria.
Q4: How is malaria diagnosed?
Ans: A drop of the patient's blood spread out as a "blood smear" on a microscope slide can be used to identify malaria parasites. The material is stained (most frequently with the Giemsa stain) before examination in order to give the parasites a unique appearance.
Q5: Who is at risk for malaria?
Ans: Young children, pregnant women, and travellers coming from places where there is no malaria are more likely to get severely sick and die from malaria than people who have little or no immunity to the disease. The prevalence of this disease is higher among the poor and those without access to healthcare who live in rural areas.
Q6: How is malaria spread?
Ans: The main method of transmission of malaria is through bites from female Anopheles mosquitoes that have the disease. Malaria parasites are injected into a person's bloodstream when they are bitten by an infected mosquito. When parasites enter the body, they move to the liver where they develop and multiply before returning to the bloodstream and attacking red blood cells.
Q7: What is malaria?
Ans: Plasmodium parasites are the cause of the parasitic disease malaria. It is spread through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes that are infected. Fever, chills, sweats, headache, bodily aches, and weariness are a few possible symptoms.