World Malaria Day 2025 — Know The Symptoms, Precautions, And All About This Disease
(By: Dr MS Purkait)
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. It spreads to humans through mosquito bites. Malaria is common in the tropics and subtropics. It causes more than 400000 deaths annually. In India, the maximum number of people are affected during summer and monsoons.
Symptoms Of Malaria:
Symptoms consist of high grades of fever which may be accompanied by chills and severe headache, confusion, body ache and vomiting, and joint pain. Abdominal pain with a feeling of fatigue and exhaustion may be present. In severe cases there could be seizures and respiratory distress.
Typically the fever is insidious to begin with but might reach a temp of 103 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit; it may be accompanied by chills and profuse sweating, after which temperatures reduce and may touch baseline.
How It Affects The Body:
Malaria generally occurs within a week of the infected mosquito bite, but in rare cases, the parasite may lie dormant in the liver of the affected person for about a year.
Malarial parasites are of two main types, vivax and falciparum, of which falciparum is more severe. The parasite completes its life cycle inside the human host and may affect various organs, especially the liver, spleen, brain, lungs, kidneys, and joints, sometimes causing life-threatening damage and death.
When a mosquito bites the affected person and then bites another person , it transmits the parasite .
Precautions To Be Taken:
- Not to travel to mosquito-infested areas or to countries where malaria is rampant. If you have to travel, then meet a doctor and ask for preventive medications.
- Wear light-coloured, full-sleeved clothing.
- Use mosquito repellent ointment, oil or spray.
- Sleep under a mosquito net.
Dr MS Purkait is Medical Superintendent at Techno India DAMA Hospital
[Disclaimer: The information provided in the article, including treatment suggestions shared by doctors, is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.]
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