What are the symptoms of Malaria

by Symptom Advice on January 14, 2011

Malaria is quite common in the tropics and it is transmitted through bites of an infected female mosquito. the appearance of symptoms of malaria symptoms of the disease tend to show depend on the type of parasite. For instance, you will get initial symptoms of malaria in 9 to 14 days if you are infected with Plasmodium falciparum; 12 to 18 days for Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium ovale; and 18 to 40 days for Plasmodium malariae.

Common Symptoms of Malaria:You know you have malaria if you are suffering from fever, chills, headaches, sweats, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. However, the severity of the symptoms depends on your body’s immunity, your overall health and whether you have spleen. People who live in regions where malaria is common usually end up having semi-immunity to the disease and that is why they display either few or no symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms of malaria come and go in a cycle and they stay for different lengths of time. This is especially true in the initial stages of the disease. the cycle occurs due to that lifecycle of the malaria causing parasite. If the symptoms occur in a cyclic manner, you can be sure that you are suffering from malaria as many of these symptoms are also common to bacterial, viral or parasitic infections.

Other common symptoms of the disease include dry cough, enlarged spleen and muscle pain. on rare occasions, malaria can cause problems with the brain and spinal cord, lead to seizures, or cause loss of consciousness.

Out of all the malarial infections, the one caused by Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous one. If left untreated, it can be fatal.

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