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February 7, 2012
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Malaria

Medical Author:

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

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Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Treatment Overview

Medicine can prevent malaria and is necessary to treat the disease. Several factors influence the choice of medicine, including:

  • Whether the medicine is being used to prevent or to treat malaria.
  • Your condition (such as your age or whether you are pregnant).
  • How sick you are from malaria.
  • Geographic location where you were exposed to malaria.
  • Whether the malaria parasite may be resistant to certain medications.
  • Your ability to take the preferred medicine without side effects or complications.
  • Whether you are able to take the medicine as a pill.

Malaria is rare in the United States, but it is widespread in other parts of the world. Find out about the risk for malaria before you travel internationally.

Read about the treatment of malaria »

SOURCE:
Healthwise

Malaria Overview

  • Malaria is caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium which are spread to people by infected mosquitoes. There are five species of Plasmodium that can infect humans.
  • Statistics show that there are 250 million to 500 million cases of malaria each year in the world, causing up to 1 million deaths. Deaths are more common in children.
  • Although North America, Western Europe, and Russia are free of malaria, transmission still occurs in many other tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Disease rates are highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The hallmark of malaria is fever. Initially, symptoms may mimic the flu. Fever may be accompanied by shaking chills and muscle aches. Anemia is common.
  • Severe cases may cause organ failure or death.
  • Malaria is diagnosed from a blood smear when the parasite is seen under the microscope. Other tests are available, but microscopy remains the cornerstone of diagnosis. Malaria is treated with specific medications. Oral medications are usually used, except in severe cases.
  • Most patients recover completely after being treated. However, infection with P. vivax or P. ovale may be associated with organisms that hide in the liver for months or years, resisting treatment. Special medications are used to help eradicate these organisms.
  • People who travel to areas with malaria should visit their physician prior to departure. The risk of malaria may be reduced by taking medications and using mosquito precautions.
Map 1: Countries in Central and South America where malaria transmission exists. Note that some areas within an affected country may be free of malaria.
Map 1: Countries in Central and South America where malaria transmission exists. Note that some areas within an affected country may be free of malaria.

Map 2: Countries in Africa and Asia where malaria exists. Note that some areas within an affected country may be free of malaria.
Map 2: Countries in Africa and Asia where malaria exists. Note that some areas within an affected country may be free of malaria.
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Malaria Causes»
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Viewer Comments & Reviews

Malaria - Symptoms and Signs Experienced

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What malaria symptoms and signs did you experience?

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Malaria - Treatment

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What was your treatment for malaria?

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Malaria

Malaria »

Topic Overview

What is malaria?

Malaria is a serious disease that causes a high fever and chills. You can get it from a bite by an infected mosquito. Malaria is rare in the United States. It is most often found in Africa, Southern Asia, Central America, and South America.

What causes malaria?

Malaria is caused by a bite from a mosquito infected with certain germs called parasites. In very rare cases, people can get malaria if they come into contact with infected blood. An unborn baby (fetus) may get the disease from its mother. You cannot get malaria just by being near a person who has the disease.

What are the symptoms?

Most malaria infections cause symptoms like the flu, such as a high fever, chills, and muscle pain. Symptoms tend to come and go in cycles. One type of malaria may cause more serious problems, such as damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain. It can even be deadly.

How is malaria diagnosed?/...

Read the Malaria article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Malaria »

Malaria, which predominantly occurs in tropical areas, is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by infection with Plasmodium protozoa transmitted by an infective female Anopheles mosquito vector.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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