Malaria

What is malaria?

Malaria is a serious disease caused by a microscopic parasite that infects red blood cells. There are four species of malaria parasite: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium vivax, and Plasmodium ovale. The severity of disease depends on the species of Plasmodium causing the infection and the immune status of the person infected.

Who gets malaria?

Any person can get malaria if they are bitten by an infected mosquito in a region where malaria occurs. Almost all cases in the U.S. are acquired during travel to countries where malaria occurs.

How is malaria spread?

The malaria parasite is carried by infected humans in their bloodstream. When a mosquito ingests blood from an infected person, the malaria parasite develops into an infective stage within the mosquito and later is injected into another person when that infected mosquito feeds again.

Malaria can also be acquired by receiving a blood transfusion from an infected donor, and by the sharing of contaminated syringes. Rarely, the parasite can be passed on to infants born to infected mothers.

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Malaria is a disease commonly characterized by fever, chills, headache, and sweating. The infected person may develop relapses throughout their life. Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most serious form of malaria, may progress to organ failure, coma, or even death.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

The appearance of symptoms is dependent on the species of Plasmodium but can vary from 7 days to 10 months.

Where is malaria found?

Malaria is common in most tropical and sub-tropical countries. Travelers to Central and South America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South Pacific are especially at risk.

Do infected people need to be isolated or excluded from work or school?

Patients with malaria need not be excluded from work. Persons with a history of malaria should not donate blood or organs.

Can malaria be treated?

Patients with malaria should immediately seek medical attention. Malaria can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, but infections caused by Plasmodium falciparum can cause more severe infections and can be harder to treat.

How can malaria be prevented?

Although there is no vaccine currently available against malaria, there are oral drugs that can prevent travelers from getting infected while visiting areas in which malaria is common. Travelers to such areas can further protect themselves by using anti-mosquito measures such as mosquito netting and insect repellents.

It is very important for any person traveling to areas where malaria occurs to consult with their physician about the current recommendations for preventive medications against the disease.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.