World Malaria Day 2023: Malaria occurs when an anopheles mosquito bites a person. This disease does not spread from one person to another like covid or viral flu. In some cases, malaria can spread to another person through blood transfusion or organ transplant. Symptoms of malaria can start appearing from 10 days to 4 weeks after infection. Common symptoms of malaria are fever, sweating, shivering, headache, feeling sick, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting.
Plasmodium is the dominant protozoa, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Chronic complications are less common in malaria and are more common in people who get repeated bouts of malaria.
These complications can arise from malaria
-Liver failure and jaundice: In which the skin and eyes turn yellow.
-Shock: Sudden drop in blood pressure.
Pulmonary edema: Filling of fluid in the lungs.
- acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Decreased blood sugar - hypoglycemia
- kidney failure
-Swelling and rupture of the spleen
Malaria increases the risk of these dangerous health conditions
1. Neurological problems
If malaria reaches a severe stage, it can affect the brain. In many cases, it has been seen that due to this disease, the patient's ability to understand and learn is affected. In this, the patient may continue to have tremors, imbalance while walking, and seizures due to malaria if treatment is delayed.
2. Kidney failure
Sometimes when malaria becomes severe, it also affects the kidneys. If it is not treated, it can also lead to kidney failure.
3. Tropical Splendagli Syndrome
In parts such as Africa and eastern South Asia where malaria is endemic every year, patients have immunological overstimulation of the spleen, causing it to enlarge and even burst in some cases. Due to this, the level of blood decreases, and there is severe weakness and exhaustion in the body, which affects the quality of life. Its explosion can even kill the patient.
4. Malaria in pregnancy
If a mother gets malaria during pregnancy, it can cause long-term effects on the development of the fetus. This can lead to an increased chance of miscarriage, low birth weight of the baby, and several developmental problems.
5. Brain damage
Malaria also affects the brain, but this is seen in fewer cases. This is known as cerebral malaria, which can cause inflammation in your brain, sometimes leading to permanent brain damage.
6. Cancer
Malaria can also affect our immune system. Due to this, the body can easily come under the grip of an infection like the EBV virus. This virus has a direct relation to lymphoma.
