What are the symptoms of malaria? The potentially deadly disease can be transmitted to humans by a single mosquito bite. The most deadly form of malaria is due to a parasite called Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria is prevalent in some countries like malaria in Zimbabwe. Recently, there is a vaccine against malaria or malaria shot which can prevent it.
Increased prevention and control rules have led to a reduction in malaria mortality rates globally, though it’s still a considerable obstacle in the world. Early diagnosis of malaria is key to preventing deaths. It also contributes to decreasing transmission of malaria. Symptoms and signs of malaria can develop as fast as seven days after an infected mosquito bites you. So, lets start with the symptoms of malaria to stand against malaria.
1High Fever
With malaria, the patient exhibits a high fever, which comes and goes. The pattern of elevated temperature may vary according to the species of malaria.
High fever and chills are usually the first signs and symptoms of malaria. Firstly, malaria feels like the flu with high fever, weakness, and body aches, associated with hot and cold stages.
Fever occurs when the body temperature rises significantly above the standard 37 C.
This increase in temperature is due to the activity of the body’s defense mechanism to defeat the invading parasites. Malaria can lead to a high fever in which the body temperature increases by one or more Celsius degrees.
Once the body temperature increases, the homeostatic mechanism start to cool the body to the average temperature.
This leads to an extreme reduction in interior temperature which causes chills. Periods of fever and chills occur interchangeably as both the defense and homeostatic mechanisms each work.
