Find Compassionate Care to Treat Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that can sometimes be fatal. However, with the proper care and treatment, serious illness and death from malaria can be prevented.
UPMC Susquehanna physicians are experienced in caring for patients of all ages with malaria in Williamsport, PA. To receive excellent care, Find a Provider at UPMC Susquehanna.
Malaria Symptoms
Malaria symptoms typically begin 10 days to four weeks after an infection, but each case is different. Some people who have been infected may experience symptoms as soon as seven days after a bite, while others may have symptoms for up to one year later.
Symptoms usually include the following:
- Flu-like symptoms (chills, headache, muscle aches,fatigue)
- High-grade fever
- Anemia
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes)
Untreated malaria may lead to severe complications, like kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma and even death.
Malaria Causes
Malaria is transmitted by a female Anopheles mosquito that ingested the blood of an infected person. The infected blood contains small malaria parasites that are passed on to other people via bites from the infected mosquito.
Malaria cannot be transmitted through physical contact but it can be spread through the following:
- Blood transfusion
- Organ transplant
- Shared use of contaminated needles or syringes
Malaria Treatment at UPMC Susquehanna
Treatment for malaria should be begin as soon as a person realizes that he or she is infected. A healthcare provider can determine whether you have malaria by examining your blood for malaria parasites. Certain factors — such as age, weight, pregnancy status, disease severity, in what part of the world the infection happened and the species of malaria parasite that caused the infection — help determine what type of treatment will work best to cure a malaria infection.
Infectious Disease services at UPMC Susquehanna provide complete care to evaluate, manage and treat a wide array of health conditions.