Symptoms To Watch Out For When A Baby Have Malaria

Newborns and infants less than 12 months of age are one of most the vulnerable groups affected by malaria. During pregnancy, malaria infection in the mother can cause low birth weight and result in infant death.

At approximately 3 months of age, when immunity acquired from the mother starts to wane. Infants are at increased risk of rapid disease progression, severe malaria and death. Severe anaemia is particularly common in this age group.

Many children with malaria develop anaemia. Because the onset is gradual, children withstand a low level of haemoglobin quite well and blood transfusions are rarely needed. Standard hematinic therapy is effective.

Vomiting is common in malaria. An antiemetic such as domperidone can be used, and antimalarial should be continued. Vomiting stops when the malaria is cured. If repeated vomiting has led to dehydration, the child needs appropriate parenteral fluids to correct it. Glucose-containing fluids help to counter the hypoglycemia that sometimes accompanies severe malaria.

Malaria symptoms usually appear 6 to 30 days after infection. Symptoms may take up to 12 months to show. The symptoms are similar to a terrible flu:

• fever
• chills
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• extreme weakness
• muscle aches
• pain in the abdomen, back, and joints
• coughing
• confusion

Malaria is a dangerous cause of fever in children who return from travelling. Fever is a symptom, not a disease. It is the body’s response to infections. A fever may mean that something serious is occurring. It needs to be investigated by a doctor.

 

If your child shows several of these signs, see a doctor right away. If not treated properly, they can get worse rapidly.

Once treated, symptoms usually go away in a few days. Some children take longer to recover.

Many other diseases share the same signs as malaria. This may delay diagnosis in children. So if your child is having any of this symptoms, take him/her to a nearby hospital.