How do you catch malaria?

How do you catch malaria? Malaria is particularly severe in Africa. Africa accounts for 95% of global malaria cases and deaths from WHO. This illustrates the prevalence of malaria in Africa. Why is malaria fatality rate so prevalent in Africa? How is it transmitted? How can malaria be prevented? With 15 years of experience as a manufacturer of malaria testing kits, we can help clarify these questions for you.

What is malaria?

Malaria generally refers to malaria. Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites. Depending on the type of Plasmodium, malaria can be classified into four types: vivax malaria, falciparum malaria, ovale malaria, and quaternary malaria. After entering the body, the Plasmodium parasite first invades and multiplies in human stem cells, then invades and multiplies in red blood cells, causing the red blood cells to rupture and resulting in illness.

How do you catch malaria?

How do you catch malaria? Malaria is most commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, but it can also spread through contaminated blood. Understanding the transmission routes helps you know how to prevent it effectively.

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1. Mosquito Bites (Main Transmission Route)

The vast majority of malaria infections occur after being bitten by an Anopheles mosquito carrying Plasmodium parasites.

Major malaria-transmitting mosquitoes include:

• Africa: Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus,like malaria in south africa, tanzania, uganda, kenya.
• Southeast Asia: Anopheles sinensis (中华按蚊),like malaria thailand, philippines.
• Other tropical regions: Various Anopheles species like malaria in mexico,brazil, panama, peru,Puerto Rico, spanish.

When an infected mosquito bites a person, it injects parasites into the bloodstream, causing malaria.

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2. Infected People Can Spread Malaria to Others (Via Mosquitoes)

People who currently have malaria—or those who have not fully recovered—still carry Plasmodium parasites in their blood.
Even individuals who show no symptoms but carry the parasites can transmit malaria.

How this happens:

1. A mosquito bites an infected or parasite-carrying person.
2. The mosquito becomes infected.
3. Later, it bites another person, passing on the malaria parasites.

This cycle continues if infected individuals do not take precautions or are not properly treated.

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3. Transmission Through Contaminated Blood

Although less common, malaria can also spread through direct contact with infected blood, such as:

• Using unsterilized needles or syringes
• Blood transfusions from infected donors
• Sharing contaminated medical equipment
• Rarely, from mother to baby during childbirth (congenital malaria)

If a needle that contains malaria-infected blood is reused without proper sterilization, it can transfer the parasites to another person.

Summary: How You Catch Malaria

You can get malaria through:

1. Bites from infected Anopheles mosquitoes (most common)
2. Indirect mosquito-mediated transmission from infected people
3. Exposure to contaminated blood or unsterilized needles

Does malaria spread from person to person？

Malaria is contagious, but not through human-to-human transmission; it is transmitted by mosquitoes. If a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites an uninfected person, the uninfected person will develop malaria. Therefore, malaria is an infectious disease, but it is not transmitted from person to person; it is spread by mosquitoes. Malaria is transmitted through mosquitoes, and the virus infects humans with Plasmodium parasites via blood, leading to the onset of the disease.

What are the symptoms of the malaria？

Malaria symptoms can be divided into typical symptoms, prodromal symptoms, intermittent symptoms, other general signs, and symptoms of special malaria types.

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1. Typical Symptoms

The classic malaria attack occurs in three stages and often follows a cyclical pattern:

• Chills (Cold Stage)

• Sudden onset of chills and shivering
• Feeling extremely cold, starting from the extremities
• Pale skin, bluish lips and nails
• Intense muscle and joint pain
• Uncontrollable shaking and teeth chattering

• High Fever (Hot Stage)

After chills stop, body temperature rises quickly, often reaching over 40°C.
Common signs include:

• Severe headache
• Intense thirst
• Muscle aches
• Rapid breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• In some cases, seizures or very severe headache

• Sweating (Sweating Stage)

• Profuse sweating
• Sudden drop in body temperature
• Symptom relief after 30–60 minutes

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2. Prodromal Symptoms (Early Symptoms Before an Attack)

Some patients may experience milder symptoms before a full malaria episode:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• General discomfort
• Loss of appetite
• Mild chills
• Low-grade fever

These vary depending on the type and quantity of parasites.

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3. Intermittent Symptoms

Between malaria attacks, patients may have an asymptomatic interval.

Over repeated episodes:

• Fever cycles may become regular
• Anemia can develop (especially in Plasmodium falciparum malaria)
• Enlarged spleen can occur in chronic or repeatedly infected patients

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4. Other Possible Symptoms

• Rapid heartbeat
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes)
• Weakness
• Diarrhea

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5. Symptoms of Special Types of Malaria

• Cerebral Malaria

A severe, life-threatening form caused mostly by Plasmodium falciparum.
Malaria in the brain Symptoms include:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Altered consciousness or seizures
• The condition is dangerous and has a high fatality rate if untreated

• Malaria in Pregnancy

Can cause serious complications:

• Pregnancy-induced hypertension
• Miscarriage
• Preterm birth
• Stillbirth

• Recrudescence and Relapse

• Recrudescence: Symptoms return due to remaining parasites in the blood
• Relapse: Occurs when dormant parasites in the liver are reactivated (common in P. vivax and P. ovale)

How to test for malaria？

Testing for malaria involves checking whether Plasmodium parasites are present in the blood. Doctors use several clinical and laboratory methods to confirm the diagnosis. Here are the primary testing approaches:

1. Clinical Symptoms

Doctors first look at typical malaria symptoms:

• Sudden chills
• High fever (often recurring in cycles)
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Possible anemia

If these symptoms appear after traveling to a malaria-endemic area, malaria becomes a strong consideration for diagnosis.

2. Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Malaria parasites damage red blood cells and may also affect white blood cells.

A CBC test can show:

• Reduced red blood cells
• Reduced white blood cells

These changes help support the diagnosis.

3. Blood Smear (Microscopy)

This is one of the most commonly used and reliable tests.

• A drop of blood is placed on a slide.
• A technician examines it under a microscope.

If Plasmodium parasites are seen, malaria is confirmed.

4. Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs)

These tests detect malaria antigens such as:

• LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)
• Aldolase
• HRP-2 (depending on species)

The malaria antigen test kit give results in 15–20 minutes and are useful where microscopy is not available.

5. Molecular Diagnostic Tests (PCR)

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) detects DNA or RNA of the malaria parasite.

This malaria lab test method:

• Is highly sensitive
• Can determine the exact malaria species (e.g., falciparum, vivax, ovale, malariae)

It is mainly used in advanced laboratories.

6. Blood Culture

Blood is collected and cultured in a special medium.

If parasites grow, the diagnosis is confirmed.

This is less commonly used but can help in complicated cases.

Is malaria curable or not?

Malaria is curable. It is a mosquito-borne disease that poses a threat to human life, so timely treatment is crucial. Treatment primarily involves chloroquine and primaquine. Basic treatment is recommended, including bed rest during attacks and for 24 hours after the fever subsides, to ensure adequate hydration with a liquid or semi-liquid diet.

Malaria is treatable; it is not a very serious disease, and treatment is relatively simple. Basic treatment is an option. During an attack, many people may experience fever. In this case, bed rest is essential, along with adequate hydration, maintaining the patient’s body temperature, and frequent changes of clothing.

How long do malaria shots last？

The effectiveness of malaria vaccination generally lasts 1-4 years, depending on the type of vaccine, vaccination schedule, and individual immune response.

Currently, the World Health Organization recommends the RTS/AS01 vaccine as the primary malaria vaccine, which typically protects for 1-3 years. This vaccine requires four doses, with the first three administered one month apart, and the fourth dose given 12-15 months after completing the primary immunization series, thereby extending protection for up to 4 years. Early data from other vaccines under development, such as R21/Matrix-M, suggest a protection period of 3-4 years, but further clinical observation is needed. Vaccine effectiveness is influenced by various factors, including variations in circulating Plasmodium strains, the recipient’s age, and their immune status. In high-endemic malaria areas, antibody levels in children may gradually decline over time after vaccination, but some individuals may maintain some protection through immune memory. Travelers to endemic areas who have exceeded the vaccine’s protection period should have their vaccination needs reassessed.

How to prevent the malaria?

Malaria prevention measures include controlling the source of infection, interrupting transmission routes, and improving population immunity.

1. 1. Controlling the source of infection: An effective epidemic reporting system is crucial for controlling the source of infection. Timely eradication treatment is essential for current malaria patients and those carrying the malaria parasite to prevent disease transmission.
2. Interrupting transmission routes: The primary measure is to eliminate Anopheles mosquitoes and prevent bites. This includes removing breeding grounds for Anopheles larvae, such as stagnant water, empty cans, and tires, as well as using insecticides. Personal protection is also essential; repellents or mosquito nets can be used to avoid mosquito bites.
3. Improving population immunity: Although some progress has been made in malaria vaccine development, the diversity of Plasmodium antigens still presents significant challenges. Current research focuses on sporozoite proteins and gene vaccines, but these are not yet ready for field application. Therefore, the most effective approach to malaria prevention is a comprehensive strategy that encompasses the control of the source of infection, interruption of transmission routes, and personal protection measures.