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 treated properly. Conversely, if left untreated, this disease can be fatal from causing severe anemia, kidney failure, to death.
In Indonesia, the number of malaria sufferers tends to decrease from year to year. However, there are still many who suffer from malaria in several provinces in the eastern region, such as Papua and West Papua. Meanwhile, the provinces of DKI Jakarta and Bali are included in the category of malaria-free provinces.
Causes and Symptoms of Malaria
Humans can get malaria after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the Plasmodium parasite . The mosquito bite will cause the parasite to enter the human body, then settle in the liver before attacking red blood cells.
Symptoms of malaria appear at least 10-15 days after being bitten by a mosquito. Symptoms appear in three stages over 6–12 hours, namely chills, fever and headache, then profuse sweating and weakness before body temperature returns to normal.
Treatment and Prevention of Malaria
Malaria must be treated immediately to prevent the risk of dangerous complications. Treatment of malaria can be done by administering antimalarial drugs whose types are adjusted to the parasite that causes malaria, the severity, or the area where the patient has lived.
Although there is no vaccine against malaria yet, your doctor can prescribe antimalarial drugs as a preventative if you plan to travel or live in an area where there are many cases of malaria.
Prevention of malaria can also be done by installing mosquito nets on the bed, wearing long sleeves and long pants, and using mosquito repellent creams or sprays.