Answers to Questions asked about Malaria

Q - What is malaria?

A - Malaria is an infectious disease characterized by an intermittent fever (high body temperature) and other symptoms caused by a group of micro-organisms called plasmodia.

Q - What causes malaria?

A - Malaria is caused by a group of protozoan micro-organisms called plasmodia. There are 4 species.

1. Plasmodium Falciparum - Causes the most severe form of malaria.
2. Plasmodium Vivax
3. Plasmodium Ovale
4. Plasmodium Malariae

Q - Can malaria kill?

A - Yes, malaria can kill! It is estimated that about 1.5 million people die from malaria every year. This means One person dies from Malaria every 30 seconds and most of these deaths occur in children under 5 years and pregnant women. Non-immune people like travelers visiting a malaria endemic region for the first time also record a high death rate if they don't take the necessary precautions.

Q - How can a person get infected with malaria?

A - A person can get infected with Malaria when (s)he is bitten by a female Anopheles mosquito carrying the malaria parasite. Learn all about malaria transmission.

Q - What are the symptoms of malaria?

A - The common symptoms of malaria include fever, chills (a cold feeling internally even when hot outside), rigors (shivering), and body aches and pains. Click this link for a better explanation of the symptoms of malaria.

Q - How is malaria treated?

A - Malaria is treated by administering drugs. Its treatment has become a bit complex because plasmodia have developed resistance to some of the drugs used for treatment. As a result of this, WHO recommends that un-complicated malaria be treated with a combination of drugs. ACT is the preferred combination.

Q - How can Malaria be prevented?

A - Malaria can be prevented by protecting yourself from mosquito bites and by taking preventive malaria medications. There is hope that an effective malaria vaccine will soon be available. Read answers to questions asked about malaria prevention methods.

These are just a few of the questions asked about malaria. There are many more which are published on other pages of this site. Use our search tool or click on any of the relevant links to learn more.

Created - October, 2006

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