Malaria

Malaria is an infection by a microscopic protozoa called Plasmodium. Protozoa are a type of parasite.

• Malaria is spread by infected mosquitoes

• Every year millions of people around the world get malaria

• More than half a million people died of malaria in 2023, mostly children younger than 5 years

• Malaria typically causes fever, headache, and chills

• It's diagnosed with a blood test and with an examination of a blood sample under a microscope

• Several medicines treat malaria, but the parasites are becoming resistant to the medicines

Malaria occurs mainly in these parts of the world:

• South America (including northern parts of Argentina)

• Central America

• Africa

• India and other parts of South Asia

• Middle East (including Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq)

• Southeast Asia

• North and South Korea

• Mexico

• Haiti

• Dominican Republic

• Central Asia

There are 5 species of the Plasmodium parasite that cause malaria in people.

• When a mosquito bites an infected person, it can become infected with the parasite

• The next person the mosquito bites can get infected

Malaria parasites first go to your liver to mature and reproduce. Then the parasites go into your blood and reproduce inside your red blood cells.

• Eventually the red blood cells burst and release the parasites, which then infect more red blood cells

• If many red blood cells are destroyed, you can develop low numbers of red blood cells (anemia)

You may not have symptoms for several days or even years after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Then you have:

• High fever

• Shaking chills (very bad shivering)

• Headache, muscle aches, and feeling very sick

• Extreme tiredness

The fever and chills come and go every couple of days. As the infection continues, you may get:

• Anemia

• Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)

• A swollen spleen and liver

If you are pregnant, you may become very sick if you have malaria. Malaria may cause your baby to be born too soon (premature birth), or it may cause your baby to die early in your pregnancy (miscarriage) or to die about half way through your pregnancy (stillbirth). Your baby may have a low birth weight or may be born infected.

The most dangerous form of malaria is called falciparum malaria. Falciparum malaria is especially dangerous because the infected red blood cells can clog up tiny blood vessels and cause organ damage. The clogs may damage your brain, kidneys, lungs, digestive tract, and other organs. Other forms of malaria don't do this.

Falciparum malaria also causes other symptoms depending on what organs are affected:

• Brain: Seizures, confusion, coma, death

• Lungs: Trouble breathing

• Kidneys: Dark urine, kidney failure

• Digestive tract: Diarrhea

• Hormones: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Doctors do:

• A rapid blood test

• Examine a blood sample under a microscope

The rapid test takes about 20 minutes. To do this test, doctors take a sample of your blood and certain chemicals and place them on a special test card. Specific bands appear on the card if you have malaria.

Doctors also take a sample of your blood and look at it under a microscope. They are able to see the parasites in your blood with the microscope.

Doctors do both tests if possible.

Medicines for malaria depend on which species of the parasite you have and where you got it. In some parts of the world, malaria parasites are resistant to many medicines. "Resistant" means the parasites are no longer killed or weakened by the medicines that are usually able to kill or weaken them.

In some areas where malaria is common, malaria medicines sold by local pharmacies may be fake (counterfeit). If you're traveling to a remote, high-risk area, your doctor may have you bring along malaria medicines just in case you get infected. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends widespread use of a malaria vaccine among children living in areas where malaria is common and where the spread of falciparum malaria is moderate to high.

If you visit or live in an area that has malaria, you need to:

• Avoid mosquito bites

• Take preventive medicine to kill malaria parasites

To avoid mosquito bites:

• Spray insecticide in homes and outbuildings

• Place screens on doors and windows

• Sleep under a mosquito net that is coated with the insecticide permethrinSleep under a mosquito net that is coated with the insecticide permethrin

• Apply mosquito repellents containing DEET

• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, particularly between dusk and dawn

• If you're going to be exposed to a lot of mosquitoes, wear clothing and use gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) that has been coated with permethrinIf you're going to be exposed to a lot of mosquitoes, wear clothing and use gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) that has been coated with permethrin

People can also clean up any standing water (like in old tires, flower pots, or puddles), which is where mosquitoes like to breed.

You can take medicine to prevent malaria. Several different medicines are available. Your doctor can advise which one is right for where you're traveling to and for your health conditions. You'll need to start taking the medicine before you travel.