What is Malaria

• According to the World Health Organization, an individual is infected with malaria when a parasite called plasmodium enters the body through a mosquito bite. The parasite travels through the body to an infected individual's liver where it is capable of multiplying. Through the liver the parasite is able to infect the red blood cells of an infected individual. The CDC states throughout the world up to 500 million individuals are infected with malaria each year and nearly 1 million of those infected die of the disease.
  
  

Malaria High Risk Areas

• Malaria is commonly seen in Africa, but there are other parts of the world in which an individual may be at risk of contracting malaria. These areas include Latin America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Mosquitoes breed near water. High-risk areas that have had a lot of rain or that naturally have a lot of standing water may have a high number of mosquitoes that are able to transmit malaria.
  
  

Symptoms of Malaria

• Malaria symptoms do not appear immediately after an individual is bitten by a carrier mosquito. Symptoms of malaria generally do not begin to develop for two weeks after infection. In some cases symptoms have taken up to a month to appear. There are a number of symptoms of malaria that may mimic a flu. Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, head pain, nausea, vomiting, aches and pains, fatigue, sweating, weakness, enlarged spleen, yellowing of the skin, enlarged liver and breathing faster than normal. Individuals may have some or all of the symptoms.
  
  

Treatment for Malaria

• Treatment of an individual who has malaria depends on how severe the illness is presenting itself. If there are mild symptoms of malaria then an individual may be treated at home. More severe cases are hospitalized. Anti-malarial medications exist in both oral and IV forms. After treating an initial infection of malaria individuals will be given medication in order to prevent the disease from becoming active again.
  
  

Preventing Malaria

• There are a number of ways that people can protect themselves from contracting malaria. The key to prevention is to avoid being bitten by a mosquito. This can be done by using screens in windows and doorways and using netting over beds, cribs and so on. When outdoors in high-risk areas individuals should wear as much protective clothing as possible. Bug spray that repels mosquitoes should also be used. When traveling to a country in which malaria can be contracted individuals may choose to take a medication beforehand that will help prevent malaria.