4 Types of Malaria in India that are very Dangerous

Table of Content

• Statistics of Malaria in India

• 4 Types of Malaria in India

• Plasmodium Life Cycle

• Causes of Malaria

• Signs and Symptoms of Malaria

• Diagnosis of Malaria 

• Treatment of Malaria

• Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria

• Prevention of Malaria

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on 4 Types of Malaria in India

Introduction

Malaria is a serious disease that spreads by mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites. If untreated, malaria can cause seizures, brain damage, trouble breathing, organ failure and death. In this article, you would come to know the types, causes, diagnoses and treatments available for malaria in India. 

Statistics of Malaria in India

Malaria is a tropical disease and it is more pronounced in hot humid climate conditions. In 2020, there were 241 million reported cases of malaria globally with the highest cases being in Africa and South Asia. The main areas affected by malaria include, 

• Africa

• Islands in the Central and South Pacific Oceans (Oceania)

• Central and South America

• Eastern Europe

• South and Southeast Asia

• Dominican Republic, Haiti and other areas in the Caribbean

4 Types of Malaria in India

Though many species of Plasmodium can cause malaria, the common species that are found in India are, 

1. Plasmodium falciparum

2. Plasmodium malaria

3. Plasmodium vivax

4. Plasmodium ovale

Of all the species, P. falciparum is the deadliest. 

Plasmodium Life Cycle

Malaria transmission is initiated by the female Anopheles mosquito. Mosquitoes like Anopheles suck human blood for egg production. The natural cycle of malaria involves cyclical infection of humans and female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Humans get infected when a plasmodium parasite-infected mosquito bites them. The parasite is then released into their blood when a mosquito bites them. After infection, they grow and multiply first in the liver cells and then in the red cells of the blood, leading to the breakage of the intact cells. The parasites growing inside the red blood cells release parasites that continue the cycle by invading other red cells.

The blood-stage parasites cause the symptoms of malaria in humans. However, when these forms of parasites are ingested by a female Anopheles mosquito, they begin a cycle of growth and multiplication in the mosquito, which takes the form of the parasite called a sporozoite and migrates to the mosquito’s salivary glands.

Now, when the Anopheles mosquito sucks the blood from another human, they transfer the sporozoites, which then migrate to the liver, ultimately beginning a new cycle.

Here is the malaria map which demonstrates the life cycle of the mosquito and plasmodium species, 

Causes of Malaria

These are some of the common causes of malaria, 

• Living in unsanitary conditions and a tropical climate 

• A pregnant mother having malaria can transmit it to the child

• Careless blood transfusions 

• Organ donations 

• Shared hypodermic needles

Signs and Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria symptoms usually occur from 10 days to one month after the infection from a mosquito. Often, signs and symptoms of malaria are similar to the flu. They are, 

• Fever and shaking chills

• Profuse sweating 

• Headache and muscle aches.

• Fatigue

• Chest pain and cough.

• Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

In extreme cases of malaria, it can cause, 

• Jaundice 

• Anaemia 

• Cerebral malaria (may progress to coma) 

Diagnosis of Malaria

Medical professionals would examine you for the symptoms and enquire about your travel history. By taking a sample of your blood, they can test whether you have malaria by analyzing it for malarial parasites. send it to a lab to see if you have malaria parasites. In the case of a malarial infection, your medical care provider would choose an appropriate treatment. 

Treatment of Malaria

Malarial infections are often treated with anti-malarial drugs which can kill the parasites. Some of the common antimalarial drugs are, 

• Artemisinin drugs (artemether and artesunate)

• Atovaquone Chloroquine

• Doxycycline

• Mefloquine

• Primaquine

• Quinine

Antimalarial drugs can cause various side effects and interfere with your normal body functions by causing various side effects, 

• Seizures 

• Anaemia 

• Psychology issues 

• Decreased vision

• Headaches 

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) 

• Gastrointestinal problems

• Increased sensitivity to light 

Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria

Sickle cell anaemia is a blood disorder where the red blood cells are sickle-shaped providing no room for the malarial parasite to complete the life cycle. This blood disorder provides natural protection to people from malaria. More research is going on to apply this phenomenon to curb malarial infections. 

Prevention of Malaria

Here are the tips that can help you in staying away from malarial infections. 

• Apply repellents to the skin that is exposed to the environment. 

• Sleep with mosquito nets during the night.

• Have screens on your windows and doors.

• Treat clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags and other fabrics with Use insect repellents like permethrin on clothes, mosquito nets, tents and sleeping bags. 

• Sleep with long pants and long sleeves to avoid exposing your skin to mosquito bites.

Take-Home Points

• Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium species spread by the vector female Anopheles mosquito. 

• The common species of malaria in India are Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax, and Plasmodium ovale.

• Fever, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness are some of the primary symptoms of malaria.

• Cerebral malaria can lead to coma and has the highest probability of causing mortality. 

• After blood tests give positive results for malaria, you will be treated with antimalarial drugs.