Commentary on MALARIA’s Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Malaria is an infection caused by Plasmodium carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria is an infectious disease that can be transmitted through mosquito bites, not from human-to-human physical contact.
Transmission occurs when a female Anopheles mosquito that has been infected with Plasmodium bites a human. The Plasmodium will be released into the bloodstream and cause the parasite to develop in the liver, then attack red blood cells and cause clinical symptoms to appear.
If malaria does not receive proper treatment immediately, malaria can cause complications such as anemia and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). In more serious conditions, malaria can develop into cerebral malaria which can cause blockage of blood vessels in the brain and bleeding in the brain area.

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium infection carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which cannot be transmitted through direct contact but through mosquito bites. It can also be transmitted through mother-baby transfusion, blood transfusion, or shared use of injection needles. There are five types of parasite species that can cause malaria in humans: Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium vivax, a mild parasite with symptoms every three days, can survive in the liver for three years, while Plasmodium malariae, a four-day parasite, is common in Africa and the West Pacific. Plasmodium ovale, a similar parasite, is common in Africa and the West Pacific.
Factors increasing the risk of malaria include children under 5, pregnant women, HIV/AIDS sufferers, those migrating to malaria-endemic areas without immunity, population mobilization, and travelers. These factors can increase the likelihood of contracting the disease.

Malaria treatment involves antimalarial medications, such as chloroquine, quinine, and artemisinin-based combination therapies, depending on the type and severity of the disease. Symptomatic relief may include paracetamol to reduce fever and alleviate headache and muscle pain. Severe cases may require hospitalization for supportive care, including intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, and monitoring. Preventive therapy may be given to individuals at high risk of contracting malaria, such as travelers to endemic areas or pregnant women in high-risk regions. Treatment should be initiated promptly upon diagnosis to prevent complications and reduce transmission risk. Following healthcare provider recommendations and completing the prescribed medication course is crucial for effective treatment.

Malaria and dengue are both mosquito-borne diseases with distinct characteristics. Malaria, caused by parasites transmitted through Anopheles mosquitoes, presents with cycles of fever, chills, and can lead to severe complications. Dengue, caused by the dengue virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, manifests as sudden high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, and can progress to severe forms with bleeding. Malaria is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions globally, while dengue is widespread in urban areas of Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Prevention involves mosquito control and, for malaria, antimalarial medications. Treatment for malaria includes specific drugs based on the parasite species, whereas dengue treatment focuses on supportive care due to lack of specific antiviral therapy.

1．Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malaria. https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/malaria/index.html
2．Herchline TE. Malaria. 2020. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/221134-clinical
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4．Zekar L, Sharman T. Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555962/
5．Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of malaria (guidelines for clinicians). 2019. https://www.cdc.gov/Malaria/resources/pdf/clinicalguidance.pdf