World Malaria Day: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

The World Malaria Report 2019 ranked India as the country with the highest burden of Malaria in Southeast Asia. However, India also emerged as the only nation exhibiting a drastic decrease in the number of reported cases of the disease. This has largely been due to the steps taken by the Indian government for the prevention of Malaria. According to the WHO World Malaria Report 2020, from 2000 to 2019, the number of Malaria incidents reduced by 71.8% and the death count by 73.9%.

 

However, since Malaria is not completely eradicated, Indians are at a higher risk for infection which can cause serious complications such as multiple organ failure and even death if treatment is delayed. If you have not yet purchased any individual/family health insurance plans available in the market, the diagnosis of such a life-threatening condition can also be financially draining apart from being an emotional setback.

 

Rising hospitalization expenses make health insurance necessary since it offers you financial protection with the facility of cashless claims and other benefits. Even as you realize the importance of medical insurance, you should also be well informed about malaria symptoms and treatment as well as its causes, as we approach World Malaria Day 2021.

 

 

What Causes Malaria?

 

When a female Anopheles mosquito infected with the Plasmodium parasite bites you, the infection spreads through the blood and the parasite enters the liver where it starts multiplying. You might not experience any Malaria symptoms for about 10 days after the infection. However, the newly formed malaria parasites are circulated back into the bloodstream. These parasites in turn infect red blood cells and undergo further multiplication.

 

Some parasites may lie dormant in the liver itself, leading to a recurrence of Malaria symptoms later. A total of 100 types of Plasmodium parasites are found worldwide that infect various species and multiply at different rates. However, only 5 of these infect humans, with some resulting in a severe form of Malaria as compared to others.

 

The absence of a vaccine to combat the disease and the increased resistance of the Anopheles mosquito to drugs and medications puts the onus of the prevention of malaria on the general population. This also underscores the importance of medical insurance as it helps you stay prepared financially for any such eventuality in the future.

 

 

Symptoms of Malaria

 

Now that you know about how Malaria spreads, you should also know how to identify the symptoms early. The disease largely remains undiagnosed in the initial stages due to a longer cycle of the parasite. However, if Malaria symptoms are ignored, it may lead to dysfunction of vital organs and severe infection. Signs of uncomplicated malaria which usually are similar to flu are as under:

 

- Headache, fever, and nausea or vomiting

- Feeling cold and experiencing shivers

- Sweating, followed by a normal body temperature

- Some younger people might also have seizures

 

You might experience these symptoms for 6 to 10 hours in a day. They may recur the following day again. If your immunity is low or poor and the infection is not controlled at this stage or misdiagnosed, it may become severe and spread to other organs as well. In this case, you should look out for these signs:

 

- Fever and shivering, followed by several convulsions

- Weakened consciousness

- Breathing deeply with a difficulty in the respiratory pathway

- Lying down with the chest towards the floor, or in a prostrate or prone position

- Abnormal bleeding that results in anemia

- Detection of jaundice and damage to vital body organs

 

 

Malaria Treatment

 

Once you are found symptomatic of the disease, treatment is prescribed, depending on whether the infection is uncomplicated or severe. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended by WHO for uncomplicated Malaria treatment in patients who are present with symptoms of this less severe form of the disease. ACT helps to decrease the number of parasites in the blood within the first 3 days of infection. A partner drug is usually used along with ACT to fully get rid of the remaining Plasmodium parasites in the blood.

 

Artemisinin is derived from the sweet wormwood plant, also known as Artemisia annua. Increased access to Malaria treatment through ACT has helped to bring down the disease burden worldwide. However, it has been noticed that the disease is becoming resistant to ACT treatment which poses grave danger of a severe infection in the population and hence makes health insurance necessary for all.

 

 

Malaria Prevention

 

Adopting hygiene practices and preventing the breeding of mosquitoes in your surroundings can help you avoid Malaria symptoms and stay healthy. Here are a few ways to achieve this:

 

1. Do Not Allow Water to Stand :

 

Water that is left standing in pots, tires, coolers, pits, etc. is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Discard it and clean the area around your house in this case. You can also pour a few drops of oil such as vegetable or kerosene oil on the water surface. This will kill the mosquito larvae and pupae and prevent further growth.

 

2. Prevent Entry of Mosquitoes :

 

Close the windows in your house and if you want to let fresh air in, cover them with window nets to ensure mosquitoes stay out. You can also use a mosquito net while sleeping to keep you safe from a mosquito bite while ensuring a peaceful sleep.

 

3. Mosquito Repellants :

 

Use an over-the-counter mosquito repellent cream or gel to prevent mosquito bites when you are outdoors walking or running or doing your daily exercise routine such as yoga or meditation.

 

4. Cover Yourself :

 

Wear loose cotton clothes, however, remember to cover your hands and legs to prevent exposure to mosquitoes, especially in the evening

 

5. Mosquito Fish :

 

If you have a small pond, or any other water body in your neighborhood, keeping Mosquito fish (Gambusia) that feeds on mosquito larvae is the perfect solution for malaria prevention.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Now that you know everything about Malaria symptoms and treatment, you might have understood that the absence of a cure puts you at risk for this grave disease. This makes health insurance necessary even as you follow the steps outlined above for malaria prevention, so that even if you or your family members get infected, you can get the best medical treatment at the earliest.

 

Not only this, when you choose the right health insurance plan this World Malaria Day 2021, it can offer you protection against not just Malaria and other vector-borne diseases but also many chronic diseases.

 

You also get additional benefits of health insurance such as tax exemption. So, secure the future of your family by realizing the importance of health insurance and giving them the promise of better health by purchasing a policy today!

 

 

Sources:

 

https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/malaria

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1677601

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150670#prevention

https://www.parashospitals.com/blogs/10-ways-to-prevent-malaria/