Malaria Treatment Online

With Mobi Doctor, you can save money and time by speaking directly with medical professionals online. Our virtual service can save you an in-person trip to the doctor's office, allowing you to get the medication you need as soon as possible. Learn about our process and how we can help you regain total health with minimal disruption to your life.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite that impacts the body's blood cells. It kills these cells, leading to many symptoms. Many victims experience chills, fever, rapid breathing, body pains, and more. They may also experience brain swelling, oedema, organ failure, and even death in extreme cases of malaria infection.

Malaria can also be a recurring disease. Immunity can wane after just a few months, making previous victims susceptible to reinfection. The plasmodium parasite can also reside in the liver and reemerge at various times, causing the victim to suffer another bout of malaria symptoms. Malaria can be a long-term, debilitating condition for those suffering from it.

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria is a serious illness caused by parasites passed to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The symptoms usually appear 10 days to 4 weeks after the bite, but in some cases, they can take longer to appear.

Early Symptoms

The early signs of malaria often feel like the flu, making it hard to tell the difference without a test. Common early symptoms include:

• Fever and chills (sometimes mild, sometimes very intense)
• Headache
• Sweating
• Feeling very tired
• Nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting
• Muscle and joint pain
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

These symptoms can happen in cycles; they come and go in waves. During a malaria "attack," you might first get chills and shiver, then have a high fever, followed by heavy sweating. This cycle can repeat every two or three days, depending on the type of malaria parasite.

Worsening Symptoms

If malaria is not treated quickly, the symptoms can become more serious. These might include:

• Severe anaemia (low red blood cells) that makes you feel very weak
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), which happens when the liver isn’t working well
• Fast breathing and heart rate
• Trouble staying awake or alert
• Seizures (sudden shaking of the body)
• Blood in the urine
• Trouble with blood clotting
• Confusion or strange behaviour

Stages of Malaria

Malaria often follows a pattern with three stages:

• Cold Stage: You feel cold and start to shiver, even though your body temperature increases. This stage can last from 15 minutes to an hour.
• Hot Stage: After the cold stage, you get a high fever, feel hot, and may have headaches, nausea, and stomach problems. Your skin might feel dry, and your head may hurt a lot.
• Sweating Stage: After a few hours, the fever disappears, and you sweat a lot. Your temperature goes back to normal, but you feel very tired afterwards.

Severe Malaria

In some cases, malaria can get much worse and become life-threatening. This occurs when parasites infect a large number of red blood cells. It leads to serious complications in the body's vital organs. Some symptoms of severe malaria are:

• Seizures (uncontrolled shaking)
• Coma (deep unconsciousness)
• Trouble breathing
• Kidney failure
• Convulsions (violent shaking)
• Death, if not treated quickly

Severe malaria is very dangerous and needs medical help right away. The sooner malaria is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of avoiding serious complications.

Causes of Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is spread to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. When this mosquito bites someone with malaria, it picks up the parasite. Then, when it bites another person, the parasite is passed into their bloodstream, causing malaria.

How Malaria Spreads

The process starts when an infected mosquito bites a person, injecting the Plasmodium parasite into their blood. The parasite travels to the liver, where it grows and multiplies. After a few days or weeks, the parasite leaves the liver and attacks the red blood cells. This is when symptoms like fever, chills, and tiredness appear.

Some malaria parasites, like Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale, can hide in the liver for months or even years before returning and making the person sick again. This means a person can get malaria again long after the first infection.

Types of Malaria Parasites

Five main types of malaria parasites can infect humans:

• Plasmodium falciparum: This is the most dangerous type of malaria. It spreads quickly in the blood and can cause severe problems like anaemia (not enough red blood cells) and even damage to the brain, called cerebral malaria. This type is primarily found in Africa.
• Plasmodium vivax: This type is less deadly, but it can stay hidden in the liver and cause relapses. It is more common in Asia and Latin America.
• Plasmodium ovale: Similar to P. vivax, this parasite can also cause relapses. It is mainly found in West Africa and some Pacific islands.
• Plasmodium malaria: This type can last long, even for many years, if not treated. It can cause kidney problems in some cases.
• Plasmodium knowlesi: Originally found in monkeys, this malaria can infect humans too. It is found in Southeast Asia and can make people very sick very quickly.

Other Ways Malaria Can Spread

Although mosquitoes are the primary way malaria spreads, it can also be passed from person to person through contact with infected blood. This can happen in several ways:

• Blood transfusions: If someone receives blood from a person with malaria, they can become infected.
• Organ transplants: A person can get malaria if they receive an organ from someone with the disease.
• Shared needles: People who use drugs and share needles can spread malaria if one of them is infected.
• From mother to baby: An infected mother can pass malaria to her baby at birth. This is called congenital malaria.

Infected mosquitoes usually spread malaria but can also be passed through contact with infected blood. The parasite causes symptoms when it moves from the liver into the bloodstream and attacks red blood cells. Plasmodium parasites cause different forms of the disease, with Plasmodium falciparum being the most dangerous. Understanding the spreading procedure of malaria can help prevent the disease and keep people safe.

Treatment of Malaria

Malaria is a severe illness, but with the right treatment, most people can recover fully. The treatment a person gets depends on several factors, like the type of malaria parasite, how bad the symptoms are, where they got infected, and whether they’ve taken malaria medicine before. Other factors like age and pregnancy are also considered when choosing the right treatment.

Common Medications for Malaria

Malaria treatment aims to eliminate the parasite in the bloodstream quickly. Doctors will prescribe different medicines based on the type of parasite and where the malaria was caught.

• Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine: These are commonly used if the malaria parasite is not resistant to these drugs. They are used in areas like Central America and some Caribbean islands, but many parts of the world have malaria strains that don’t respond to chloroquine anymore.
• Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs): ACTs are the best option for treating Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous type of malaria. These medicines combine artemisinin with other drugs to make sure malaria is completely cleared from the body. Coartem, a mix of artemether and lumefantrine, is a common ACT used to treat malaria.
• Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone): Another option for treating P. falciparum and other drug-resistant malaria types. It’s often used in children and for people who can’t take other medicines.
• Quinine Sulfate: This drug is sometimes used with antibiotics like doxycycline or clindamycin to treat malaria when other medicines don’t work. Quinine is usually a backup option if the first treatments fail.
• Primaquine Phosphate: This medicine is used for P. vivax and P. ovale, which can hide in the liver and cause malaria to come back later. Primaquine helps prevent the parasite from causing a relapse.
• Artesunate: In severe cases, doctors may give artesunate through an IV to treat the infection quickly. After that, the patient will continue with other malaria medicines to ensure the infection is completely gone.

Factors That Affect Treatment

The type of treatment a person receives depends on several things:

• Type of Parasite: Different parasites need different treatments. For example, P. falciparum usually requires ACTs, while P. vivax might need additional medicines like primaquine to treat the liver stage.
• Severity of Symptoms: If someone is very sick, they might need to stay in the hospital and get medicine through an IV. Severe cases can affect the brain or kidneys, so acting quickly is essential.
• Where the Malaria Was Caught: Some places have malaria parasites that don’t respond to certain medicines. Doctors will choose the best treatment based on where the person was infected.
• Pregnancy and Age: Pregnant women and young children need unique treatments to make sure the medicines are safe for them.

Preventing Relapse

Some types of malaria, like P. vivax and P. ovale, can stay hidden in the liver for months or even years and return later. To prevent this, doctors give a second medicine, like primaquine, to kill the parasite in the liver.

Prevention of Malaria

Malaria is a serious disease, but you can protect yourself by following several important steps. If you're going to travel to or live in an area where malaria is common, you must take precautions to avoid getting sick. Here are some ways to prevent malaria:

1. Be Prepared

Before you travel to a place where malaria is common, talk to a doctor about the risk of infection. They can recommend medicine to help prevent malaria. You need to start taking these antimalarial drugs a few days before your trip, continue while you’re there, and for some days after you return.

The medicine is about 90% effective, but taking other precautions, like avoiding mosquito bites, is still important. Make sure you plan ahead because some medicines require a test before use.

2. Avoid Mosquito Bites

The bite of an infected mosquito spreads malaria, so preventing bites is key. Here’s how you can protect yourself:

• Use mosquito repellent: Apply a repellent with DEET or another effective ingredient on your skin, especially in the evening and at night when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear protective clothing: Cover your arms and legs with long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks. Wearing clothes treated with insect repellent can give you extra protection.
• Sleep under a mosquito net: To keep mosquitoes away at night, use a mosquito net over your bed. If possible, use an insecticide-treated net.
• Stay indoors at peak times: Mosquitoes that spread malaria are most active between dusk and dawn. Try to stay indoors during these hours, or if you need to be outside, use repellent and wear protective clothing.

3. Control Mosquitoes Around You

One way to lower the risk of malaria is to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so make sure there are no open water containers, such as buckets or bins, around your home. Cover them if you cannot empty them. You can help reduce the number of mosquitoes around you by getting rid of places where mosquitoes can breed.

4. Vaccination and Long-Term Protection

In some parts of the world, children who live in malaria-prone areas can get a malaria vaccine. This vaccine helps protect them from getting the disease.

If you live where malaria is common, talk to a doctor about long-term ways to prevent the disease. This might include taking antimalarial medicine regularly and continuing to avoid mosquito bites.

Get Malaria Treatment Online With Mobi Doctor

You can get a prescription for malaria medication through Mobi Doctor. Thanks to its online service, you can get a prescription with an internet connection in just a few minutes. Connect with us, and one of our English-speaking medical professionals can speak with you and assess your needs. We can answer your questions and help you obtain the best medication.

We've made getting the medical care you need easy and affordable. A prescription through Mobi Doctor only costs €29, making it an affordable option for most people. We take most insurance providers, or you can pay for your prescription out-of-pocket. You can get the cure for your medication in just a few minutes.