Signs and symptoms of malaria that you shouldn't ignore

Malaria is not a disease that can be underestimated. The reason is, the disease caused by mosquito bites is estimated to kill around 400,000 people each year. Malaria cannot be underestimated because it develops very quickly when it starts infecting the human body, even if not treated immediately it can be fatal. Therefore, it is important for you to understand well what are the signs and symptoms of malaria to look out for.

What causes malaria?

Malaria is a deadly disease prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas where climates are hot enough to facilitate the development of the malaria parasite.

The cause of malaria is a parasitic infection Plasmodium from mosquito bites Anopheles females who were also infected. When a mosquito bites a human, the parasite is transmitted and enters the bloodstream, and eventually multiplies.

Once mature, the parasites enter the bloodstream and start infecting human red blood cells. The number of parasites in red blood cells will continue to increase in an interval of 48-72 hours.

After being infected with a mosquito bite, the symptoms will appear (incubation period) about 7 to 30 days later. The incubation period of each type plasmodium can be different.

There are indeed many types Plasmodium which can cause malaria. However in areas in Southeast Asia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, types Plasmodium the most commonly found is Plasmodium knowlesi . The development of parasites is fast enough to make this type of malaria can cause organ disability and death.

Malaria cannot be transmitted from person to person, although in some cases it can spread without a mosquito. For example, the virus passes from a pregnant woman to the fetus, as a result of inappropriate blood transfusion procedures, as well as sharing of needles.

What are the signs and symptoms of malaria?

The main symptoms of malaria are a high fever that causes chills, and has symptoms similar to those of the flu. Symptoms of malaria can be grouped into 2 categories, namely:

1. Malaria without complications (mild malaria)

Mild malaria usually causes mild symptoms but does not damage organ function. However, these symptoms can turn into severe malaria if not treated promptly, or if you have a compromised immune system.

According to the website of the Centers for Disease Control in the United States (CDC), symptoms of uncomplicated malaria usually last for 6-10 hours, but sometimes occur over a longer period of time with even more complicated symptoms. The reason is, sometimes the symptoms that occur are very similar to the flu, so they can lead to a misdiagnosis of the disease.

If you have mild malaria, the following symptoms will develop:

• The body feels a cold and shivering sensation
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures, usually occur in malaria sufferers at a young age
• Sweating accompanied by fatigue
• Pain in the body

2. Severe malaria

Symptoms of severe malaria are usually proven by clinical or laboratory results that show signs of impaired vital organ function and several other symptoms, such as:

• The high fever was accompanied by severe chills
• Experiencing disturbance of consciousness
• Have seizures
• Respiratory distress
• The appearance of severe anemia
• Experiencing vital organ dysfunction
• Kidney failure
• Cardiovascular collapse
• Low blood sugar levels (usually occurs in pregnant women)

When should I see a doctor?

As you have seen before, malaria can develop very quickly. It is recommended that if you or a family member experience the signs of illness as mentioned above, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Especially if these symptoms appear in infants, young children, and pregnant women because the symptoms of malaria will develop to be very severe in all three groups.

This includes those of you who live in areas with low malaria cases, but have traveled from areas that are at risk of malaria.

If after returning from the area you have a high fever, despite taking malaria prevention and regularly taking anti-malarial drugs, you should still see a doctor.

How are the symptoms of malaria diagnosed?

The process of examining malaria is not an easy task. The reason is, this disease often shows symptoms similar to other infectious diseases, such as flu.

Therefore, it is important for doctors to know the medical history, travel history, symptoms experienced, and the results of the patient's physical examination. To get a more accurate diagnosis, the patient must also pass a variety of additional laboratory tests.

Laboratory tests usually require a sample of your blood to see if parasites are present Plasmodium. The following are the types of blood tests that are recommended for supporting malaria:

• Rapid diagnostic test (rapid diagnostic test): to see if there are proteins or antigens in the blood. These antigens indicate the presence of parasites in the blood.
• Microscopic blood test: with this test, the doctor can see what type of malaria parasite is infecting the body.
• General check up (complete blood count): aims to check whether there is additional disease or infection such as anemia. Malaria sufferers are prone to anemia because this infection can damage red blood cells.

In addition to the types of blood tests above, your doctor may also order liver or kidney function tests. This aims to check whether the disease is progressing and disrupting the function of other organs.

Correct diagnosis of malaria symptoms can help prevent the disease from getting worse. In addition, the results of the diagnosis can also help the doctor determine what malaria treatment is suitable for your condition.