Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

Common symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, malaria can lead to complications such as anemia, jaundice, seizures, and coma.

Malaria is diagnosed through laboratory tests that detect the presence of the malaria parasite in blood samples. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are commonly used in areas where microscopy is not readily available.

Malaria is treated with antimalarial medications. The choice of medication and duration of treatment depend on factors such as the species of malaria parasite, the severity of the disease, and the patient’s age and medical history.

Prevention strategies include using insecticide-treated bed nets, applying insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, staying indoors during peak mosquito hours, taking antimalarial medication if traveling to endemic areas, and reducing mosquito breeding sites.

Yes, a malaria vaccine called RTS,S/AS01 (brand name Mosquirix) has been developed and is approved for use in some countries. However, it is not 100% effective and is primarily recommended for young children in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission.