Do Mosquitoes Give You Malaria?
WouterThose traveling to malaria-prone countries should consult a travel clinic before traveling. A diagnostic test can detect malaria parasites in a person’s blood. The correct treatment removes parasites and eliminates the infection.
Malaria is a serious disease that affects nearly half of the world’s population. It is most common in Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean. It can be prevented by taking preventive medications and by avoiding mosquito bites.
Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. It infects the liver and blood cells. Some Plasmodium species are extremely dangerous and may cause liver and kidney failure. They can also reactivate years later and cause malaria attacks.
When an Anopheles mosquito bites, the parasites enter the mosquito’s salivary glands. The parasites multiply inside the mosquito and travel to the liver, where they multiply again. The parasites infect the red blood cells (RBCs). Infecting RBCs cause malaria. Symptoms of malaria include fever, muscle aches, headache, and nausea. Some people don’t develop symptoms until weeks or months after being bitten.
When a person’s red blood cells are infected, they can then infect other RBCs. The malaria parasites can also be passed from a mother to her unborn child. Those who receive organ transplants also have the risk of becoming infected with malaria.
Malaria is a major drain on many national economies. The World Health Organization estimates that 627,000 people died from malaria in 2020. It is common in Central and South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Caribbean.
