Malaria: Symptoms, Complications, and Prevention

Liputan6.com, Bandung – Malaria is again a threat to health, especially during dry weather conditions, aka the dry season.

In these conditions, mosquitoes quickly reproduce. What’s wrong with malaria and mosquitoes? Yes, mosquitoes are a medium for transmitting malaria to humans.

Named insect category animals Anopheles This parasitic female sex, in one bite will cause death.

The initial symptoms of malaria are usually flu-like, fever and headache. These symptoms are indeed very common in other minor illnesses, making it difficult to identify as malaria.

According to dr. Pittara from the page alodokter.commalaria must be treated immediately to prevent the risk of dangerous complications.

“Malaria can be treated by administering antimalarial drugs, the type of which is adjusted to the parasite that causes malaria, the severity, or the area where the patient has lived,” Pittara wrote on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

The reason is, if not treated quickly, there are 5 complications that can occur in sufferers of malaria, including:

1. Severe anemia

Anemia occurs because many red blood cells are destroyed or damaged (hemolysis) due to malaria parasites.

2. Brain malaria

This complication occurs when blood cells are filled with parasites that block small blood vessels in the brain. As a result, the brain becomes swollen or damaged. Symptoms of brain malaria include seizures and coma.

3. Failure of body organ function

Several organs that can be affected by the malaria parasite include the kidneys, liver or spleen. This condition can endanger the patient’s life. In some cases, the spleen can even enlarge (splenomegaly) to more than 10 cm.

4. Respiratory disorders

This complication occurs when fluid builds up in the lungs (pulmonary edema), making it difficult for sufferers to breathe

5. Hypoglycemia

Severe malaria can cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. Very low blood sugar can result in coma or even death.

“Although there is no vaccine to prevent malaria, doctors can prescribe antimalarial drugs as a precaution if you plan to travel or live in an area where there are many cases of malaria,” continued Pittara.

Pittara explained that malaria prevention can also be done by installing mosquito nets on the bed, wearing long sleeves and long pants, and using anti-mosquito cream or spray.

Malaria is a contagious infectious disease that is spread through mosquito bites. Malaria sufferers will complain of symptoms of fever and chills a few days after being infected with parasites carried by mosquitoes.

“Although easily transmitted through mosquito bites, malaria can be completely cured if handled properly,” said Pittara.

Launching the Health page Liputan6.comData from the World Malaria Report 2020 compiled by the World Health Organization stated that around 229 million cases of malaria infection occurred in 2019.

Of that number, 400,000 people who were infected died. Most of the victims of malaria are children under 5 years.

There’s nothing wrong if we follow Dr. Pittara’s directions regarding the use of mosquito nets and long clothes and trousers.

Prevention is better than cure, because preventing disease is cheaper, while treating it is relatively expensive. Don’t forget to also practice a clean and healthy lifestyle (PHBS).

2023-07-14 07:00:16
#Complications #Due #Malaria #Beware