What is malaria parasite and how to prevent it?

What is the Malaria Parasite?

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. There are five main species of Plasmodium that infect humans:

1. Plasmodium falciparum (most deadly)
2. Plasmodium vivax
3. Plasmodium ovale
4. Plasmodium malariae
5. Plasmodium knowlesi (rare but can infect humans)

Once inside the body, the parasite multiplies in the liver and then infects red blood cells, causing symptoms such as fever, chills, sweating, headache, nausea, and severe complications if untreated.

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How to Prevent Malaria?

Since there is no widely available malaria vaccine for adults (except for limited use of the RTS,S vaccine in some regions), prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and using preventive medications:

1. Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Use mosquito nets: Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).
• Apply insect repellents: Use repellents with DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin.
• Wear protective clothing: Long-sleeved shirts and pants, especially at night when mosquitoes are most active.
• Stay indoors at peak hours: Mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn.
• Use insecticide sprays: Indoor spraying with insecticides like pyrethroids can reduce mosquito populations.

2. Take Preventive Medications

If traveling to a malaria-prone area, you may need antimalarial drugs such as:

• Chloroquine (for areas where malaria is still sensitive to it)
• Mefloquine
• Doxycycline
• Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone)

Consult a doctor for the best medication based on your destination and medical history.

3. Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites

• Remove standing water from flower pots, tires, and containers.
• Keep drains clean and covered.
• Use larvicides in water bodies where mosquitoes breed.

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