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Diseases 101: What is malaria?
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Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by mosquito bites. However, only female Anopheles mosquitoes are able to carry and transmit the malaria virus. Because malaria is an infection of the red blood cells, human-to-human transmission is possible through shared needles/syringes, blood transfusions, organ transplants, and child birth (congenital malaria).
The severity of malaria symptoms depends on three variables: what type of parasite, if you have a previous immunity, and whether or not you still have your spleen. The most common side effects are similar to that of the common flu -- chills, high fever, sweats, headaches, fatique, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may increase in severity depending on how long you've been infected and which "cycle" of the disease you're in.
There are preventive actions to protect yourself from contracting malaria. The best and most commonly used form of prevention is anti-malaria medication. Taken either by pill form or in a shot, anti-malaria drugs don't prevent the contraction of malaria, but disallow the propogation of the disease.
According to MedicalNewsToday.com, there are 5 different types of malaria.
- Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) - This is a less severe classification of the disease and is mostly not fatal.
- Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae) - This type of malaria stays in the human blood stream for several decades, but is a less severe form of the virus.
- Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale) - This form has a stage in which it stays in the liver for many years, but may make a relapse and cause further complications. Again, a milder form of the disease and is mainly not fatal.
- Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) - Most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa, the falciparum is the most dangerous and most deadly form of the virus.
- Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) - This form is primarily found in macaques, but can also infect humans as well.
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