Malaria is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes; this disease can be transmitted between humans. When diagnosing this disease, the doctor will gather information about the patient's travel and medical history. The purpose of obtaining the patient's travel history is to figure out whether or not the individual has been to an area known for having high rates of infected mosquitoes.
The most common symptoms of malaria are quite similar to viral flu. These symptoms may include anemia, persistent coughing, diarrhea, fever, headache, jaundice, joint pain, nausea and vomiting. For an accurate diagnosis, the doctor must evaluate more factors than just the patient's symptoms to distinguish the presence of malaria from other serious ailments like cholera and yellow fever.
Once the malaria physician in Honolulu gathers all the relevant information, he will usually order a blood smear test. A sample of the person's blood is collected. Then, the blood is put on a slide in order to be examined under a microscope. The results of this test will show any parasites that are present. Even though doctors can perform other tests, a blood smear is the most frequently use.
When the disease is suspected, time is of the essence. If left untreated, the infected individual can fall into a coma or experience mental confusion, kidney failure, seizures and even death. This disease is infamous for having a rather long incubation period that ranges from one week to one year. Because of this extended time period, many people do not consider mosquito exposure to be directly related to the physical symptoms from which they are suffering. It is not until the physician inquires about their travel history that the symptoms are linked to this disease.
After being diagnosed with malaria, the doctor will treat the patient with intravenous or oral medication. The five most common antimalarial drugs are Aralen, Qualaquin, Plaquenil, Mefloquine and Malarone. There are several factors that play a role in the specific course of treatment used. Before prescribing a treatment, the doctor must consider the species of infecting parasite, the severity of the patient's symptoms, their age and whether or not the patient is pregnant.
In some cases, people can take antimalarial drugs before departing on a trip as a preventive measure. The type of prescribed drug will depend on the area to which the patient is traveling. Other recommended ways to prevent malaria include treating the walls of a house with insecticide, sleeping underneath a mosquito net, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants and using mosquito repellent on the body and clothes.
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