World Malaria Day 2023: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment And All That You Need To Know

Malaria is a major threat to human life since it is caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

(Representational Image)

Source : Getty

New Delhi: World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25 to highlight the major impact of malaria on world health and to promote action to prevent and eliminate the illness. Malaria is a major threat to human life since it is caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

This day is also an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment to malaria prevention and control. It was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007, according to WHO.

World Malaria Day 2023: Causes Of Malaria

Malaria is spread when a person has been bitten by an Anopheles mosquito, rather than from one person to another like Covid or Flu are. It can also be spread by blood transfusion or organ donation in some situations. Malaria symptoms can appear 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, although they can appear as early as 7 days or as late as 1 year afterwards. Plasmodium is the most common protozoa transferred to humans by the bite of a female anopheles mosquito. The disease is most typically encountered in tropical or subtropical climates. 

World Malaria Day 2023: Symptoms Of Malaria

Listed below are some signs and symptoms of Malaria. It includes:

• Chills
• A general feeling of discomfort
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle or joint pain
• Fatigue
• Rapid breathing
• Rapid heart rate
• Cough

World Malaria Day 2023: Prevention Of Malaria

If you reside in or are visiting a malaria-prone location, take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are most active between the hours of dark and dawn. To avoid mosquito bites, you should do the following:

Protect your skin: Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Tuck your shirt in and tuck your pant legs into your socks.

Use insect repellant on your skin: On any exposed skin, apply an insect repellent that has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), and para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) are some of them. Avoid spraying your face with it. Children under the age of three should not be exposed to OLE or PMD-containing products.

Use repellant on your clothing: Permethrin-containing sprays are safe to use on garments.

Get vaccinated: The World Health Organisation has endorsed a malaria vaccine for use on children living in malaria-endemic nations. Malaria vaccinations for prevention are still being developed and studied by researchers.

World Malaria Day 2023: Theme

The theme of World Malaria Day 2023 is 'Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement' which presses importance on the need to utilize the available tools and strategies to reach the untapped demographics across the Western Pacific.