Symptoms
Even though you are taking anti-malaria drugs, they do not fully
protect you from getting malaria so it is still necessary that you
avoid contact with mosquitoes and pay attention to any changes
in health. Seek a medical doctor if you become sick even if it has
been months since you have returned from high malaria risk regions
of Central and Latin America. A person with malaria displays a
combination of symptoms such as:
- Anemia
- Chills
- Fever
- Headache
- Jaundice
- Muscle pain
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
These symptoms are similar to other health conditions so it is crucial
to seek a health care provider you are experiencing the above list.
If not treated, this condition will progress to severe malaria
which includes:
- Organ failures
- Fluid builds up in lungs
- Blood in urine
- Blood clot (thickening of blood)
- Seizure
- Coma
Severe malaria occurs mainly in people who have no immunity or
decreased immunity to malaria. Those Hispanics living in the United
States who travel back and forth to their homeland. Young children
and pregnant women are at higher risk of developing severe malaria.
Anti-malarial medication that are often use to treat malaria are:
- Chloroquine quinidine quinine doxycycline
- Tetracycline clindamycin
- atovaquone proguanil (Malarone)
- mefloquine artesunate or
- a combination of pyrimethamine and
sulfadoxine (given for chloroquine-resistant infections).
The
type of medication given differs depending on the region where the
infection happened and the severity of infection.
