Malaria

Overview

How can I get sick? 

• Being bit by an infected* mosquito.  

Symptoms in humans: 

• Chills (feeling of being cold and shivering) 
• Shivering (shaking a little) 
• Fever (when your body gets a little hotter than normal)   

• Headaches 
• Throwing up  
• Seizures* in children 
• Sweats 
• Tiredness 
• Feeling like you need to throw up 
• Body pain 
• Muscle pain 
• Not feeling good 
• Diarrhea (runny poop) 

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites  

• Use insect repellents* while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.   

• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.    
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.   
• Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.   
• Remove anything that will bring mosquitoes into your home. For example, emptying standing water from pots, buckets, barrels, and other containers.   

What can I do to stay healthy?  

What to do when traveling overseas  

• Use insect repellents* while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.   
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.    
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.   
• Choose a hotel or place to stay that has air conditioning or windows and doors with screens to keep mosquitos outside.   
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping outside or if you are staying in a room with no screens on windows or doors. 

*Definitions:

• Infected: When germs get inside of a body, animal, or an organism.  
• Insect repellent: Product applied to skin, clothing or surfaces to keep insects away.  
• Seizures: Abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can usually cause shaking all over and losing control of your body.