Malaria, its threat, fighting it

 THIS article is part of a series of health advice from the Port Moresby General Hospital. This week, it focuses on malaria. Readers are urged to send any questions they may have, on any of the issues covered, to the hospital.

As many as 800 people are dying of malaria each year in Papua New Guinea.

Statistics released by Population Services International show that there are around one million malaria cases reported annually in the country.

All malaria-related deaths can be avoided if people are tested for malaria at their local urban health clinic, take their medication, and take precautions to reduce the chances of getting malaria.

There are medications and treatments for malaria. The PMGH is working towards a global standard of healthcare. Part of this process is to educate people on their own personal health and wellbeing.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a serious and sometimes-fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito, which feeds on humans.

People who get malaria typically become very sick with high fever, chill and flu-like illness.

How is malaria transmitted?

It is possible to get malaria by being bitten by an infected mosquito.

Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal on an infected person.

When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. 

About one week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito’s saliva and are injected into the person being bitten.

Is malaria contagious? 

No. Malaria is not spread from person to person like a cold or flu. 

Who is at risk for malaria?

Anyone can get malaria. Most cases occur in people who live in countries with malaria transmission.

People from countries with no malaria can become infected when they travel to countries with Malaria.

An infected mother can transmit malaria to her infant before or during delivery.

What are the signs and symptoms? 

Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness.

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea may occur.

Malaria may cause anaemia and jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells.

If not promptly treated, the infection can become severe and may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death. 

Sick after being bitten by an infected mosquito

For most people, symptoms begin 10 days to four weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as seven days or as late as one year.

Some parasites can remain dormant in the liver for several months to about four years after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito.

How do I know if I have malaria? 

Most people, at the beginning of the disease, have fever, sweats, chills, headaches, malaise, muscles aches, nausea, and vomiting.

Malaria can very rapidly become a severe and life-threatening disease. 

The surest way for you to know whether you have malaria is to have a diagnostic test where a drop of your blood is examined under the microscope.

Malaria and pregnancy 

Malaria in pregnant women can be more severe than in women who are not pregnant.

Malaria can increase the risk of serious pregnancy problems, including prematurity, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria as pregnancy reduces a woman’s immunity to malaria, making her more susceptible to malaria infection and increasing the risk of illness, severe anaemia and death.

For the unborn child, maternal malaria increases the risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, premature delivery and low birth weight – a leading cause of child mortality.

How can I reduce chances of getting malaria? 

• Taking antimalarial medication to kill the parasites and prevent becoming ill (discuss this with your doctor at your local urban health clinic);
• Keeping mosquitoes from biting you, especially at night; and,
• Sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, using insect repellent, and wearing long-sleeved clothing if out of doors at night.

When should malaria be treated?

The disease should be treated early before it becomes serious and life-threatening.

Several good antimalarial drugs are available.

What is the treatment for malaria?

Malaria can be cured with prescription drugs. 

The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on the type of malaria, where the person was infected, their age, whether they are pregnant, and how sick they are at the start of treatment.

If I get it, will I have it for the rest of my life?

Not necessarily. If the right drugs are used, people who have malaria can be cured and all the malaria parasites can be cleared from their body.