Malaria

What is Malaria?

 

Malaria is a disease that is transmitted through mosquitos. A person contracts Malaria if they are bitten by a female Anopheles mosquito that is carrying the Plasmodium parasite. It is an extremely life-threating disease and requires proper medical care to get treated. 

 

Malaria is predominantly seen in areas with a tropical and subtropical climate where the parasite fester easily. Malaria is a major problem in India as the climate and existence of unhygienic water bodies produce a lot of infected mosquitos. People should keep their living spaces clean and fix any water stagnation issues to prevent mosquitos in their surroundings. 

 

Once a person gets bitten by an infected mosquito, the parasite enters the person’s bloodstream and travels to their liver. It takes up to several days for the symptoms of the disease to show up. A person suffering from Malaria can have extreme symptoms like violent shaking, chills, vomiting and diarrhoea. Malaria can lead to organ failure if not treated immediately.

 

Malaria Symptoms

 

The symptoms of Malaria might not develop immediately after getting bitten by an infected mosquito. In some cases, it takes weeks for the symptoms to show up. Sometimes, the parasite can stay dormant for months within the infected person.

 

The most evident symptoms of Malaria are:

 

• Shaking chills
• High fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle pain

 

The symptoms of Malaria can get extremely critical very quickly. It can start causing convulsions and bloody stools. The person must get medical attention as soon as they see the first signs of Malaria; otherwise, the patient may go into a coma. 

 

Malaria Diagnosis

 

Once the symptoms of Malaria start manifesting, you must contact your doctor immediately. Malaria can become life-threating very soon and requires the patient to get admitted to the hospital.

 

A patient suffering from Malaria will have an enlarged sleep or liver, which is the first sign that a doctor looks for when examining a patient for Malaria. The doctor will also inquire about the other symptoms and will advise blood tests to confirm the presence of the parasite in the blood cells. 

 

The tests also help in understanding the type of Malaria a patient has and if the parasites are resistant to certain types of drugs. It also tells us if any vital organ has been affected by the parasite. Depending on the results, the doctor can recommend the next steps in order to prevent any further complications.

 

Malaria can spread every easily in a country like India, as the population of mosquitos is very dense in most areas. It is always a good idea to be prepared by having health insurance for the family as one can be very easily bitten by an infected mosquito no matter how cautious they are. 

 

Malaria Treatment and Cost in India

 

Treating Malaria is generally a very extensive process. The first stage is identifying the type of parasite that is within your body, and then the doctor will give medications accordingly. In case the symptoms are too severe, then the doctor might advise the patient to get hospitalized. 

 

Treatment of the disease can take time as the process of removing the parasite from the patient's bloodstream might get hindered if the parasite is resistant to the drugs. The complete treatment may even require a change in the medications to battle all types of parasites. Doctors mostly use artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in combination with a supplementary drug for treating this disease. 

 

In certain cases, if the patient has parasites such as P. vivax and P. ovale, then they might be susceptible to a replacement, in which case, they are given another medication to prevent it from happening. 

 

Treating Malaria can be an expensive affair as the patient might require a lot of drugs. In the case of senior citizens who have Malaria, the chances of the disease affecting the patient's vital organs become very high. It is highly recommended to have health care for senior citizens in order to make sure that any unforeseen complications can be treated without having to stress about the costs of the treatment.

 

Health Insurance in India

 

Health insurance is highly essential in a country like India. With disease on the rise and the cost of health care becoming more and more expensive, medical insurance is a huge necessity for every individual. 

 

Disease like Malaria can escalate very easily and can leave the patient requiring multitudes of procedures. Thankfully the India insurance industry has a hoard of different policies that will help you deal with all kinds of medical complications. You must choose the best health insurance plan for yourself and your family.   

 

A health insurance policy can provide you coverage for the expenses that you might incur when dealing with any medical conditions. When it comes to choosing the right health insurance plan, you will find that the market offers a lot of options in terms of the type of coverages.

 

The existence of all these different types of policies helps you make an informed decision as to which plan suits your needs the best. 

 

Other Diseases

 

The current hygiene conditions in most places in India are breeding ground for mosquitos and other disease-spreading insects. One must be fully aware of all the germs and infections they can contract from certain areas in certain situations. 

 

Malaria is just one of the many diseases that spread because of unsanitary environments. Here are some other diseases that one must be cautious of:

 

• Dengue 
• Chikungunya 
• Tuberculosis
• Swine Flu
• Measles