The Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. It is spread by mosquitoes. It is manifested by fever along with chills and rigors. Unless it is diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be deadly or fatal.

Your immune system does not remain active against malaria for more than a few years if you are not exposed again. This explains why people can live for many years in the tropics without being bothered by malaria. However, people from the tropics who spend several years in another country may lose their immune protection.

People who have never had a malaria infection (such as young children and travelers) and pregnant women are more likely to have severe symptoms from malaria.

In regions where there is a high rate of malaria infection, malaria can be spread in other ways than through a mosquito bite, such as through contaminated blood transfusions, transplantation of contaminated organs and shared drug needles. In pregnant women, malaria infection can pass through the bloodstream to the developing fetus, causing low birth weight or fetal death. This is most common with P. falciparum infection.  

Symptoms

Symptoms of malaria can begin as early as six to eight days after a bite by an infected mosquito. They include:  

• High fever (up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit) with shaking chills  
• Muscle aches
• Headache  
• Fatigue
• Profuse sweating when the fever suddenly drops
• Abdominal discomfort 
• Feeling faint when you stand up or sit up quickly
• Nausea, vomiting 

If treatment is delayed, more and more severe complications of malaria can occur. Most people who develop these complications are infected with the P. falciparum species.

Diagnosis and treatment of malaria

Malaria is diagnosed by looking at blood samples. The parasites are visible under the microscope. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment should be begun promptly. Almost all individuals make a complete recovery.

Anti-malarial medication is used both to treat and prevent malaria. The type and duration of drugs depend on the type of malaria, its severity, and if the patient is pregnant.

Dizziness

Dizziness is a common description for many different feelings. Some people may refer to it as giddiness, or a "dizzy spell." 

Vertigo is similar to, but not the same as, dizziness, and it describes a spinning sensation of a person's surroundings, usually caused by head movement or positioning.

What Are the Causes of Dizziness?

Dizziness may be attributed to a wide variety of causes. Sometimes doctors find no specific diagnosis for the affected individual, but some causes of dizziness are dangerous. Some causes of dizziness are listed.

What Are the Symptoms of Dizziness?

With dizziness, the person may feel faint, near passing out, weak, nauseated, confused, tired, clumsy, off balance, or any combination of these. The individual may perceive a sensation of movement, spinning, rocking, or whirling, of themselves or the room (possible vertigo).

Often, dizziness is accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Faintness ("lightheadedness") or actual fainting
• Weakness or tiredness
• Confusion
• Feeling off balance
• Headache or head pressure
• Chest pain or tightness
• Nausea or vomiting

What Is the Outlook for a Person Who Has Dizziness?

• Most causes of dizziness are harmless, and the problem goes away on its own. Sometimes dizziness will be the only symptom of serious disease, the course of which may be life-threatening or be easily treatable.
• Timely and careful evaluation of dizziness offers the best outcome, whatever the cause.
• Sometimes the cause of dizziness may not be immediately found. The affected individual may need the services of a specialist, or very detailed specialized testing to uncover the cause and develop a treatment plan for the person's dizziness.

CAN MALARIA CAUSE DIZZINESS?

Yes, malaria can cause dizziness. The increased susceptibility to malaria and the intensity of the disease in nutritional deficiency states is not just a reflection of the immune system's ability to combat infection but also has important behavioural consequences.

It is common for patients suffering from malaria to suffer dizziness, diarrhea, vomiting, and low blood pressure. This is especially true for those who have a weak immune system or a chronic ailment. The symptoms of malaria are likely to be more severe for patients with an HIV infection.