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The first symptoms of malaria can appear 1 to 2 weeks after infection by the protozoa of the genus Plasmodium sp.Despite being generally mild to moderate, malaria can develop severe conditions, therefore, the diagnosis must be made as early as possible, since the correct and rapid treatment are the most appropriate ways to reduce the severity and mortality of this disease.
The first symptom that arises is high fever, which can reach 40ºC, but other classic signs and symptoms of malaria include:
- Tremors and chills;
- Intense sweat;
- Pains throughout the body;
- Headache;
- Weakness;
- General malaise;
- Nausea and vomiting.
It is common for fever and the intensification of symptoms to occur suddenly every 2 to 3 days, for about 6 to 12 hours, during which time the red blood cells break and the parasites circulate in the bloodstream, a very characteristic situation of malaria.
However, disease patterns vary according to the type of malaria, whether it is complicated or not, and complications can be fatal.
Signs and symptoms of cerebral malaria
In some cases, the infection can develop serious complications, with cerebral malaria being the most common and important. Some symptoms that indicate cerebral malaria include:
- Stiff neck;
- Disorientation;
- Somnolence;
- Convulsions;
- Vomiting;
- Coma state.
Cerebral malaria can cause risk of death and is commonly confused with other serious neurological diseases such as meningitis, tetanus, epilepsy and other diseases of the central nervous system.
Other complications of malaria include anemia, reduced platelets, kidney failure, jaundice and respiratory failure, which are also serious, and should be monitored throughout the disease.
What tests confirm malaria
The diagnosis of malaria is made by microscopic analysis of the blood test, also known as thick gout. This test should be available at the health center or hospital, especially in areas most affected by malaria, and is carried out whenever symptoms appear indicating the infection.
In addition, new immunological tests have been developed to facilitate and expedite the confirmation of malaria. If the result indicates that it really is malaria, the doctor may also order other tests to monitor and evaluate possible complications, such as blood count, urine test and chest X-ray.
How to treat malaria
The goal of malaria treatment is to destroy the Plasmodium and prevent its transmission with antimalarial drugs. There are different treatment schemes, which vary according to the species of Plasmodium, age of the patient, severity of the disease and whether there are associated health conditions, such as pregnancy or other illnesses.
The drugs used can be Chloroquine, Primaquine, Artemeter and Lumefantrine or Artesunate and Mefloquine. Children, babies and pregnant women can be treated with Quinine or Clindamycin, always in accordance with medical recommendations and hospital admission is usually suggested, as this is a serious and potentially fatal disease.
People who live in places where this disease is common can have malaria more than once. Babies and children are easily bitten by mosquitoes and can therefore develop this disease several times during their lives. It is important to remember that treatment should be started as soon as possible because there may be complications that can lead to death. Find out more details about how the treatment is done and how to recover faster.