Health blogs by Dr. Reddy.

 Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by *Plasmodium* parasites, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected *Anopheles* mosquitoes. The symptoms of malaria typically appear 10 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Common symptoms include: ### 1. **Fever**    - High fever that can come and go in cycles, often accompanied by chills. ### 2. **Chills**    - Shivering and feeling cold, followed by sweating as the fever breaks. ### 3. **Headache**    - Persistent headaches are a common symptom of malaria. ### 4. **Fatigue and Weakness**    - General feeling of weakness and exhaustion, often severe. ### 5. **Muscle and Joint Pain**    - Body aches, muscle stiffness, and joint pain are frequent. ### 6. **Sweating**    - Excessive sweating after the fever spikes, as the body attempts to cool down. ### 7. **Nausea and Vomiting**    - Nausea and vomiting, which can sometimes be severe. ### ...

 Malaria is caused by the **Plasmodium parasite**, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected **female Anopheles mosquito**. There are several species of Plasmodium that can cause malaria, with **Plasmodium falciparum** being the most dangerous. Here are the main causes and contributing factors of malaria: 1. **Plasmodium Parasite**: The primary cause of malaria is infection by Plasmodium species, specifically:    - *Plasmodium falciparum* (most severe form)    - *Plasmodium vivax*     - *Plasmodium ovale*    - *Plasmodium malariae*    - *Plasmodium knowlesi* (less common) 2. **Mosquito Bite**: Malaria is spread through the bite of an infected **female Anopheles mosquito**, which serves as the vector for transmitting the Plasmodium parasite to humans. When a mosquito bites an infected person, it picks up the parasite, which develops in the mosquito and is later transmitted to another person when the mosquito...