Beware of malaria this upcoming summer!

Definition of Malaria

Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes, primarily occurring in tropical and subtropical regions. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite called Plasmodium, which enters the body when an infected mosquito bites a person.

Malaria Outbreak

Peak season

Malaria mainly occurs during the hot and humid summer months. In our country, malaria is primarily prevalent from early summer to early fall, especially from June to October. During this period, rising temperatures and increased rainfall make mosquito activity more vigorous, thereby increasing the risk of infection.

In particular, Incheon, northern Gyeonggi Province, and some areas of Gangwon Province are known to be malaria risk zones, making mosquito prevention measures important in these regions. Additionally, if you plan to travel to countries in tropical and subtropical regions, special caution is required.

Symptoms

It takes 2 weeks to several months for symptoms of infection to appear in the human body after being bitten by a mosquito infected with malaria parasites. The main symptoms are as follows.

• Periodic high fever: A characteristic symptom of malaria, where high fever occurs periodically, with cycles of rising and falling temperatures repeating.
Chills: You may experience severe chills before a fever rises.
• Sweating: After a high fever, sweating occurs heavily and the fever subsides.
• Headache: Severe headaches may accompany.
Muscle pain: Pain occurs in muscles and joints, similar to flu symptoms.
• Fatigue: You may experience extreme tiredness and weakness.
Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting can occur as gastrointestinal symptoms.
Anemia: Parasites can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Jaundice: Symptoms of jaundice, such as yellowing of the skin and eyes, may occur.

Malaria Treatment and Prevention

Malaria treatment

Malaria treatment should be effective and administered promptly. The commonly used medications are as follows.

• Chloroquine: Generally used as the first-line treatment for malaria. However, it may be ineffective against resistant malaria.
• Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT): One of the main treatments used for resistant malaria. It involves combining artemisinin with other antimalarial drugs.
• Primaquine/Atovaquone: Can be used for the treatment of the dormant stage of malaria parasites.

Malaria is mostly treated with medication, and in cases of severe malaria infection, intensive care may be necessary. This is carried out in hospitals and aims to prevent fatal complications and restore function.

Malaria Prevention

The main methods for malaria prevention are as follows.

Getting the malaria vaccine: The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends vaccination to prevent malaria.

However, the malaria vaccine can prevent some malaria infections but does not provide complete protection, so it is recommended to use it in conjunction with other preventive measures.

2. Prevention through medication: When visiting areas with malaria prevalence, you should consult a doctor before travel to get a prescription for malaria prophylactic medication. These medications are effective in preventing infection, and commonly used drugs include chloroquine, atovaquone-proguanil, mefloquine, and doxycycline.

3. Managing the surrounding environment: Since malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, it is important to prevent mosquito bites. Taking the following measures to prevent mosquitoes is essential.

- Remove areas where water collects to reduce mosquito breeding sites and eliminate environments suitable for mosquitoes.
Prevent mosquito breeding by flipping containers filled with water or covering openings.
Sleep using a mosquito net and stay indoors as much as possible.
When going out, wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants, and use insect repellent.
Avoid areas where mosquitoes are present during the evening and dawn when mosquitoes are active.

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