Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases and a significant public health concern. It not only poses a challenge to the healthcare sector but also haunts the affected individuals due to its severe consequences. Given its serious impact on health and rapid community transmission, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of malaria and early prevention measures.

1. What do you know about malaria?

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted from person to person through the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes. Anyone can be affected by malaria, and there is a high risk of re-infection due to the body’s limited and short-lived immunity to the disease.

The transmission routes of malaria?

Malaria is transmitted through a single route, which is the bloodstream, with the following four main modes of transmission:

• Transmission through mosquito bites by Anopheles mosquitoes: This is also the primary mode of transmission.
• Maternal-fetal transmission in pregnant women.
• Transmission through blood transfusion containing malaria parasites.
• Transmission through the sharing of contaminated needles or syringes containing blood with malaria parasites

2. Symptoms that indicate malaria?

Malaria is classified into two categories: uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria, each with different disease manifestations.

2.1. Uncomplicated malaria

Patients can experience different types of fever with varying characteristics. The initial febrile stage, known as the prodromal stage, occurs first, followed by a prolonged period of continuous high fever lasting for several days. Subsequently, the characteristic paroxysms of malaria fever appear. These fever episodes typically go through three stages:

• Cold Stage: during this stage, the patient experiences whole-body shivering, goosebumps, and pale lips. This stage typically lasts for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• Hot Stage: the patient feels less cold and the body temperature gradually rises. The face becomes flushed, the skin feels hot and dry, breathing quickens, thirst increases, and headaches may occur. This stage lasts for approximately 1 to 3 hours.
• Sweating Stage: the patient’s body temperature gradually decreases, accompanied by profuse sweating. The symptoms of the hot stage diminish and the patient begins to feel more comfortable.

2.2. Severe malaria

• Cerebral malaria

This form accounts for 80-90% of severe malaria cases. Prominent signs include altered consciousness, insomnia, persistent high fever, nausea, etc. The mortality rate for cerebral malaria can range from 20-50%.

• Cold stage

Manifestations include overall body coldness, pale skin, low blood pressure, and headaches.

• Blackwater fever

Patients experience high fever, dry vomiting, back pain, jaundiced skin, dark brown urine, decreasing urine output, and even anuria. This is a severe form characterized by massive hemolysis, renal failure, and myocardial damage.

• Pulmonary malaria

Symptoms include rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and the presence of crackles in the lungs.

• Hepatobiliary malaria

Patients may exhibit symptoms such as jaundiced skin, yellowing of the eyes, nausea, dark urine, and even coma.

• Gastrointestinal malaria

Symptoms include abdominal pain, acute diarrhea, nausea, and decreased body temperature.

If malaria is not detected and treated promptly, the infected individual can become a source of transmission, and the disease can progress to a severe and potentially fatal condition. Individuals who have never had malaria, pregnant women, older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to developing severe malaria (additional information).

3. Preventive measures for malaria

Malaria is a dangerous disease that not only causes a range of uncomfortable symptoms but also significantly impacts the lives and health of those affected. The mortality rate of malaria is relatively high. Moreover, the disease has the potential to spread rapidly, making it challenging to control as an epidemic.

Therefore, it is crucial to implement preventive measures immediately to protect one’s health.

• Use mosquito nets while sleeping to prevent mosquito bites.
• Maintain regular environmental hygiene by keeping the living environment clean, well-ventilated, and preventing mosquito breeding.

• Conduct public education campaigns on malaria prevention, encouraging individuals with fever to seek medical attention and treatment.

• Use mosquito repellent creams or lotions.
• Ensure access to clean and hygienic water sources, promote proper water flow, and minimize stagnant water sources.
• Conduct mosquito control measures such as insecticides spraying.
• Ensure safety in blood transfusions and injections.
• Clear dense vegetation and open up drainage systems around homes, build houses away from forests and water sources, and wear long clothing in the evening

Reference: tamanhhospital.vn, hongngochospital.vn & vinmec.com

4. Medical Conceirge service introduction

Insmart is proud to be a leading provider of diverse, high-quality medical concierge services. With the desire to comprehensively support customers in terms of medical care and health maintenance, Insmart has continuously developed and expanded its medical concierge services, integrating multiple outstanding features up to now. With reputable and professional healthcare facilities, Insmart aims to provide the best “well-being” experiences for employees of companies and enterprises.

Medical concierge of Insmart brings to its customers:

• Tele-Health
• Continuing with chronic disease management programs
• Health seminar organization
• Home medical services arrangement
• Health management solutions for businesses

In addition, Insmart has an extensive network with over 500 medical providers (MPs) spread across 63 provinces and cities, as well as 85 MPs in 7 countries and territories. Through medical conceirge services and network, Insmart provides a comprehensive healthcare solution to meet the increasing healthcare needs of corporate clients’ employees.

Whether your company is planning to develop a comprehensive health care program for your employees, please contact us immediately via email at mkt@insmart.com.vn or call us at +1900633086.

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