Imagine treating malaria and that “Fever, chills, and that annoying joint ache show up again like an ex who doesn’t want to move on. It’s no news that Malaria is a deadly disease spread by infected mosquito bites, turning a tiny pest into a silent killer. Just one bite from an infected Anopheles mosquito can inject parasites into the bloodstream, triggering fever, chills, and life-threatening complications. Malaria remains a major global health threat, yet it’s preventable and treatable. So, the next time you hear that familiar buzzing, remember—one small bite can have big consequences!
Why does Malaria keep coming despite the treatments?
There are three reasons of malaria reoccurrences:
1. Re-infection
This occurs when you have another fresh mosquito bite after your last treatment. Imagine you’ve just recovered from malaria and are looking forward to getting back to your routine. Suddenly, another mosquito bite reintroduces the sporozoites from its gut into your system. The sporozoites pass through all the phases, from Schizonts to Merozoites and maybe to Gametocytes, if you don’t act fast. Once the Merozoites form in the red blood cells, you’ll start to observe symptoms. Also note that when the Sporozoites from a mosquito’s saliva turn into Schizonts in the liver, they usually don’t show symptoms. So, at this point you’re already infected but no symptoms yet. When sporozoites from the mosquito’s saliva turn into Schizonts in the liver, they usually don’t show symptoms. So, at this point, you’re already infected but symptom-free. It takes about 5-15 days for this asymptomatic phase to move into the symptomatic phase. So, if you ever wondered why malaria seems to come back so quickly, it’s a reminder of how active the Plasmodium species are.
2. Relapse
This happens when parasites that lay low in the liver migrate later into the red blood cells to cause symptoms. After the sporozoites enter the liver cells, they multiply and develop into tissue Schizonts that migrate into the red blood cells to cause symptoms. We also have some parasites that don’t join others in the red blood cells but instead stay back in the liver as Hypnozoites. When they decide it’s time, they come out to invade the red blood cells and cause a fresh infection after you’ve treated the last one. Visualize this: Hypnozoites are like the big boys that come while everyone is seated. They are usually formed by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale. Many drugs don’t tackle them alone ; they can only be eliminated with a kind of malaria treatment called radical therapy.
3. Recrudescence
This type of reoccurrences’ is often due to incomplete or improper treatment. It could be because: – Maybe you didn’t finish your doses.
You were under-diagnosed.
Your result was read incorrectly, leading you to take treatment for a less severe malaria.
The quality of your antimalarial medicine was poor.
The consequence of these errors is that some parasites in the blood survive and reinitiate symptoms. You might hear people say, “I just finished my drugs, but it feels like I didn’t take anything.” Sorry oh! This is why.
How Do You Prevent Malaria?
Mosquito bites Using insect repellents, sleeping under mosquito nets, and taking antimalarial medications can be lifesaving. It is always advisable to prevent than to cure, below are means to prevent malaria:
Avoid unhygienic practices that can breed mosquitoes (e.g., keeping filled trash cans and stagnant water around your homes).
Apply mosquito repellent to skin or clothing.
Sleep under treated mosquito nets.
Wear protective clothing.
Maintain a cool body temperature.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Have a shower when necessary to avoid body odour.
See a doctor for malaria prophylactic medications when you visit high-risk areas.
If you have malaria symptoms, seek medical attention and get treated.
Conclusion
In conclusion, preventive measures, like insecticide-treated nets and prophylactic drugs for travelers, also play a key role in controlling malaria. However, when the prevention fails, it is okay to go for treatment. Because malaria treatment focuses on quickly eliminating the parasite from the bloodstream to prevent complications.
The recommended medications are antimalarial drugs like artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which rapidly clear the infection and reduce the risk of resistance. In severe cases, intravenous artesunate is used for fast action.
Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial to preventing severe illness and death. Alongside medication, supportive care—such as fluids, fever management, and blood transfusions if needed—helps the body recover.
Source: AbacityBlog
