Malaria

Malaria

• About malaria
• Preventing and treating malaria

About malaria

Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. If it isn’t diagnosed and treated quickly, it can be fatal.

A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected.

Symptoms of malaria

It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of malaria if you’re travelling to areas where there’s a high risk of the disease. This means that you can get medical attention quickly.

Symptoms are similar to those of flu and usually appear 6 to 30 days after the mosquito bite, but it can sometimes take up to a year for symptoms to start.

The initial symptoms of malaria include:

• a high temperature (fever)
• headache
• sweats
• chills
• muscle aches or pains
• vomiting and or diarrhoea

These symptoms can start mild and may be difficult to identify as malaria.

When to seek medical attention

Malaria is a serious illness that can get worse very quickly. It can be fatal if not treated quickly.

The effects of malaria are usually more severe in:

• babies
• young children
• pregnant women
• older people

Phone 111 or go to A&E if:

• you or your child develop symptoms of malaria during or after a visit to an area where the disease is found, even if it has been several weeks, months or a year after you return from travelling

You must tell the healthcare professional that you have been in a country with a risk of malaria, including any brief stopovers.

What causes malaria?

Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. The parasite is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

There are 5 different types of Plasmodium parasite that cause malaria in humans. They are found in different parts of the world (but do overlap in certain areas) and vary in terms of how severe the infection can be.

All malaria infections cause the same symptoms and require immediate medical attention. It’s not possible to find out which type of malaria you have from symptoms alone.

Types of malaria parasite

How malaria is spread

The Plasmodium parasite is spread by mosquitoes. These are known as ‘night-biting’ mosquitoes because they most commonly bite between sunset and sunrise.

When a mosquito bites a person already infected with malaria, it becomes infected and spreads the parasite to the next person it bites. Malaria can’t be spread directly from person to person.

When an infected mosquito bites, the parasite enters the blood and travels to the liver. In the liver, it develops for days to weeks before re-entering the blood. This is the point where symptoms develop and urgent treatment is required.

Although it is very rare, malaria can also be spread from a person with the infection through blood transfusions and sharing needles.

Where is malaria found?

Malaria is found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is not found in the UK or Europe.

The fitfortravel website has more information about the risk of malaria in individual countries.

Complications of malaria

Malaria is a serious illness that can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated quickly. Severe complications of malaria can occur within hours or days of the first symptoms. This means it is important to seek urgent medical help as soon as possible.

Anaemia

The destruction of red blood cells by the malaria parasite can cause severe anaemia.

Anaemia is a condition where the red blood cells are unable to carry enough oxygen to the body’s muscles and organs. This can leave you feeling drowsy, weak and faint.

Cerebral malaria

In rare cases, malaria can affect the brain. This is known as cerebral malaria which can cause your brain to swell, sometimes leading to permanent brain damage. It can also cause fits (seizures) or coma.

Other complications

Other complications that can arise as a result of severe malaria include:

• liver failure and jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
• shock – a sudden drop in blood pressure
• pulmonary oedema – a build-up of fluid in the lungs
• acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• abnormally low blood sugar – hypoglycaemia
• kidney failure
• swelling and rupturing of the spleen
• dehydration

Malaria in pregnancy

If you get malaria while pregnant, you and your baby have an increased risk of developing serious complications like:

• premature birth – birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy
• low birth weight
• restricted growth of the baby in the womb
• stillbirth
• miscarriage
• death of the mother

Pregnant women are advised to avoid travelling to regions with a risk of malaria.