Smileband health issues

Malaria is a parasitic infection that is passed to humans by infected mosquitos. Individuals may be asymptomatic, have mild symptoms or severe disease. Symptoms of uncomplicated malaria usually begin with a cold stage where the patient feels cold and shivers followed by a hot stage where the patient has a fever, headache, vomiting and possibly seizures. A final sweating stage is where a patient has extreme fatigue and sweating. The whole cycle usually takes 6-10 hours.

 

Severe disease includes organ failure or abnormalities in the patient's blood or metabolism.

 

Areas that are endemic for malaria include central Africa, parts of South America, and parts of Southeast Asia.

 

Arizona 5 year median: 25 cases

 

Transmission

Transmission occurs when an infected mosquito bites an individual. Transmission can also occur from blood transfusions or organ transplantation from an infected individual.

 

Incubation period can range from 7 to 30 days.    

Test*	Specimen
Microscopic  examination	Whole Blood
PCR  (PCR tests is most useful in confirming the species of malarial parasite after microscopy has been completed)	Whole Blood
Serology IFA  (Serology tests detect past exposure not current infections)	Serum, Plasma

 Isolation Precautions

Malaria cannot be transmitted person to person. 

Standard precautions are recommended in healthcare settings. 

Prevention for Patients
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitos. Methods include:

• Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Using insect repellent
• Using screens in windows or doors

Chemoprophylaxis may be recommended depending the individual's level of risk.  Public Health Actions

Pregnant women should be advised to take extra precautions to avoid mosquitos because malaria infection during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal death, miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and neonatal death.

Malaria infection in infants and young children can be rapidly fatal. When possible, infants and young children should not travel to areas with risk of malaria.

Individuals who lived or traveled to areas with risk of malaria transmission should be advised to not donated blood for at least 6 months after returning from those areas.

Public health will conduct an epidemiological investigation on a case or suspect case.