What are the symptoms of malaria?
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms of malaria mainly include fatigue, high fever, sweating, chills, and splenomegaly (enlarged spleen).
1. Fatigue: When the parasite carried by mosquitoes enters the body and begins to impair liver detoxification function, patients often feel weak and extremely fatigued. They may also experience symptoms such as headache and loss of appetite. In severe cases, they may feel cold and develop a low-grade fever.
2. High fever: As the disease progresses, white blood cells continuously fight the infection, leading to elevated body temperature and persistent high fever. Severe cases may also present with vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Sweating: As body temperature gradually decreases, patients experience profuse sweating. After sweating, body temperature may return to normal or near-normal levels, but it may rise again later, initiating a new cycle of fever.
4. Chills: During chills, patients feel intensely cold and may even shiver. The body's temperature regulation center is affected by toxins produced by the malaria parasite, causing the body's temperature set point to rise. Shivering occurs as the body generates heat to cope with this sudden change in temperature.
5. Splenomegaly: After infection with the malaria parasite, the spleen attempts to clear the parasites and their metabolic byproducts, leading to congestion and enlargement of the spleen.
If malaria is suspected, prompt medical attention for diagnosis and treatment is essential. Maintaining healthy daily habits, eating a balanced diet, ensuring sufficient sleep, and boosting immunity are effective measures for preventing malaria.