Malaria is a fatal systematic disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium which is transmitted into human blood via female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is more common during the rainy season and is widespread in tropical regions which provide plasmodium with a suitable environment for survival.
The parasite enters the human body through a mosquito bite and travel to the very crucial organ, the liver, where they multiply and then come back to the bloodstream and destroy red blood cells. The process further leads to a cascade of reactions and symptoms start showing.
Symptoms usually show up within 10 days to 3 weeks but sometimes malarial parasite may stay dormant and appear later in life. Symptoms are similar to the flu and can be easily confused. Therefore, a confirmatory blood test is required.
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the symptoms. The treatment includes anti-malarial medicines for healthy RBC count prescribed by practitioners.
If the test for Malaria comes out to be positive, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained around the patient and mosquitoes should be prevented around him to avoid the spread of infection to healthy individuals around.
On an end note, be safe from the disease which can be deadly at times. If you are travelling to malaria-prone areas consult a doctor for necessary medications and carry mosquito repellants and other necessary things to stay away from mosquitoes and the disease.
Most drugs used in the treatment are active against the parasite forms in the blood (the form that causes disease) and include:
Chloroquine
atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®)
artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem®)
mefloquine (Lariam®)