Courses
By Swati Singh
|
Updated on 23 Apr 2025, 12:04 IST
Malaria is one of the most common diseases in humans, especially in tropical regions. It is a vector-borne infection, which means it spreads through the bite of certain insects—in this case, the female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite from the Plasmodium species. This disease can be dangerous if not treated quickly, but it is also preventable and treatable with the right care.
Malaria is a parasite disease that affects the human body when a mosquito carrying the malaria parasite bites a person. The Plasmodium parasite travels into the bloodstream and infects red blood cells, causing a variety of symptoms. The most serious type of malaria is caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which can lead to death if not treated on time.
Malaria is caused by four main types of Plasmodium parasites:
These parasites are passed to humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, which usually bites at night. Once inside the body, the parasite goes through a lifecycle—starting in the liver and then entering the bloodstream.
Malaria is not contagious like the flu or cold. It cannot spread from one person to another directly. Instead, the vector (mosquito) picks up the parasite from the blood of an infected person and passes it on when it bites someone else.
Loading PDF...
The most common symptoms of malaria include:
These symptoms usually appear 7 to 30 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. In severe cases, malaria complications can include organ failure, coma, or death.
Doctors usually diagnose malaria by doing a blood test for malaria, which checks for the presence of the parasite. In areas where malaria is common, doctors may begin treatment based on symptoms even before test results come back.
Malaria can be treated using anti-malarial drugs. Some common medicines include:
Treatment depends on the type of malaria, how sick the person is, and whether the parasite is resistant to certain medicines.
The best way to stay safe is to prevent malaria in the first place. Here are some useful malaria prevention methods:
When the parasite enters the body, the immune system tries to fight it off. This causes fever and other symptoms. However, in some cases, the immune system is not strong enough, and the disease becomes more serious. People living in malaria-endemic areas may develop some immunity over time, but children and pregnant women are still at high risk.
Malaria is one of many common diseases in humans, but it is different from others like dengue, typhoid, or tuberculosis. For example, both malaria and dengue are caused by mosquito bites, but dengue is caused by a virus, not a parasite. A malaria vs dengue comparison shows that malaria often causes chills and sweating, while dengue causes joint pain and rashes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has worked for many years to reduce the number of malaria cases. Recently, malaria vaccines like RTS,S/AS01 have been introduced in some countries to protect children. However, prevention through mosquito control and early treatment is still the most effective way to fight the disease.
Malaria continues to be a major health problem, especially in warm climates where mosquitoes are common. By understanding how malaria is transmitted, learning the symptoms of malaria, and using prevention methods, we can protect ourselves and others. With better awareness, diagnosis, and treatment, malaria can be controlled and lives can be saved.
Let me know if you'd like this article formatted into a PDF, infographic, or a simplified version for students!
Malaria is a common disease in humans caused by a Plasmodium parasite. It spreads when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a person and passes the parasite into their blood.
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, mostly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. These parasites enter the body through mosquito bites and infect red blood cells.
The symptoms of malaria include:
Fever and chills
Headache
Nausea
Sweating
Body pain
In serious cases, it can lead to confusion, coma, or even death.
Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. It is a vector-borne disease, not a contagious one. This means it does not spread directly from person to person.
No, malaria is not contagious. It cannot be spread through touch, air, or water. Only mosquito bites can pass the infection from one person to another.
Doctors use a blood test for malaria to find the parasite. In areas where malaria is very common, doctors may start treatment based on symptoms even before test results.
Malaria is treated with anti-malarial drugs like:
Chloroquine
Quinine
Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) Treatment depends on the type of Plasmodium parasite and how serious the illness is.
Some effective malaria prevention methods include:
Sleeping under mosquito nets
Using mosquito repellents
Wearing long clothes
Cleaning areas where mosquitoes breed
Taking preventive medication before traveling to malaria endemic areas
Only the female Anopheles mosquito spreads malaria. It usually bites during the night.
Malaria parasites attack the liver first and then move into the bloodstream, where they infect red blood cells. This causes fever, chills, and weakness. If untreated, it can damage vital organs.
In severe cases, malaria can lead to:
Organ failure
Low blood sugar
Coma
Death, especially in children and pregnant women
Yes, there is a malaria vaccine called RTS,S/AS01, but it is still new and not widely available. Most people still rely on prevention and early treatment to stay safe.
Both are mosquito-borne diseases, but:
Malaria is caused by a parasite
Dengue is caused by a virus Malaria causes chills and sweating, while dengue often leads to rashes and joint pain.
These are regions where malaria occurs regularly, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas such as parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
The WHO helps countries prevent and treat malaria by offering guidelines, distributing medicines, and promoting the use of malaria vaccines and bed nets.