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Malaria accounts for approximately 1 million deaths each year globally. These usually occur in the poorer countries where the citizens are exposed to unhygienic living conditions and do not have access to medicine. If you acquire the right treatment, the disease can be prevented and treated.
There are many symptoms of malaria that should not be ignored if you are experiencing them. The first symptoms an infected human experiences are weakness and sickness. This is followed by bouts of high fevers. If left untreated, your body temperature will drop drastically. The next symptom most individuals experience is shaking, chills and flu-like symptoms which is more noticeable during the evening hours.
The parasite in the body then causes headaches, muscle aches and extreme tiredness. These symptoms are indicative of the parasite coming out of hibernation in the body and spreading. Simultaneously, you will experience malaise and profuse sweating. Some individuals experience vomiting, diarrhea and nausea with traces of blood in their fecal matter. As the disease continues to spread, dizziness and abdominal cramps can occur. One common observation during the process is the enlargement of the spleen.
Although there are different types of malaria, the P. falciparum malaria strand shows additional symptoms of jaundice, and enlargement of the liver and an increased rate of respiration. As red blood cells are attacked by the parasite, the eyes and skin begin to develop a yellowish tint. This can also lead to anemia. Many patients also experience a loss of appetite and energy with an occasional stomach ache.
When malaria is not diagnosed during the early stages, individuals have been known to become comatose, experience kidney and liver failure, shock, seizures and have bleeding problems. These symptoms are usually cycled through every 2 to 4 days due to the parasite settling and hibernating. Once the hibernation is over, the parasite spreads quickly. This is the primary reason for such a high mortality rate. It is common to only feel the symptoms 10 days out of a full month. The parasite can remain dormant for up to 4 years after transmission.
