Malaria Symptoms & Easy Prevention Measures

Malaria is a deadly disease that is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. A person may fall prey to this disease if a female Anopheles mosquito carrying this parasite bites him/her. Cases of this problem occur in India throughout the year, but this disease wreaks havoc during rainy season.

As rainy season would be here in two months or so, you should be ready with your shield to protect yourself from the malaria attack. Recognizing symptoms & taking right prevention measures is crucial if you wish to counter this epidemic. So, let’s take a look at the same in this article.

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria has a wide spectrum of symptoms and a person may start experiencing the signs of this disease after seven to 30 days of getting bitten from an infected mosquito. Malaria symptoms are classified as uncomplicated & complicated (severe)and are described below.

Symptoms of uncomplicated Malaria

• Fever & chills
• Headaches
• Nausea & vomiting
• General weakness
• Body aches

Symptoms of complicated Malaria (severe)

• Severe anemia (occurs if red blood cells are destructed)
• Kidney failure
• Cerebral malaria – seizures, abnormal behavior or unconsciousness
• Cardiovascular collapse
• Low blood sugar (in pregnant women after treatment with quinine)

Simple ways to prevent malaria

Want to prevent malaria? Make sure to avoid a mosquito bite! Below mentioned are the points that can help you in avoiding a mosquito bite.

Control insect breeding (Larval & Pupa stage)

Make sure to fill & cover all pits as well as other breeding places.
Do not let water storage occur in tyres, pots, air coolers & tanks. Regularly clean (once a week) all such articles to prevent mosquito breeding.
Put larvivorous fishes like Gambusia or Gruppy in ornamental tanks & fountains.
Spray chemical pesticides such as Abate in potable water.

Prevention measures you can use individually

• Sleep under an intact mosquito net.
• Use mosquito repellent coils, creams, mats & liquids.
• Spray Aerosol space during the day.
• Use Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) with insecticides.
• Use of biocides is also recommended.
• Get wire mesh fittings in your house.
• Cover your body well.

Prevention methods at community level

• Get Malathion fogging done during malaria outbreaks.
• Properly cement the open pits around hand pumps & water taps.
• Keep the drainage system clean.
• Make people aware of how to eradicate Anopheles breeding sites.

Prevention tips for pregnant women

• Use treated nets/LLINs (Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets).
• Use all individual prevention measures given above.

Moreover, if you are planning to travel during a malaria breakout, then learn about the risk of getting infected at the place where you wish to travel. Also, don’t forget to take advice from a doctor before travelling. If you are aware of some other better ways to improve malaria prevention, then please share your ideas with us in the comments.

Content Reviewed by – Asian Hospital Medical Editors