Malaria – Precautions and symptoms

1.Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It is typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites a person, the parasite is released into his bloodstream.
2. Most important precaution is to avoid mosquito bite by sleeping inside mosquito net, use of repellent sprays, coils and vapours.
3. The infection may travel through transfusion of infected blood. This aspect should be checked before transfusion.
4. There is no vaccine available to prevent malaria. Medicines may be prescribed for prevention and treatment.
5. Common symptoms of malaria include:
• shaking chills that are moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• anemia
• muscle pain
• convulsions