Not a disease you might choose as a common underwriting impairment, malaria, a parasitic disease in humans, is far more common than anticipated and potentially deadly when contracted-causing hundreds of millions of illnesses and probably more than a million deaths a year worldwide. While much of the insurance buying population may not live in endemic areas for malaria, if you find to have a mosquito problem in and around your home, you need to make sure that you have the relevant protection. Whilst insurance is vital for people who are traveling to areas where malaria is known to be, something as simple as looking at these Illinois terminix locations, for example, can help you to establish which pest control companies are in your area. Regardless of where you live, there will be similar companies near you, so if you feel that you have a mosquito problem, don’t be afraid to reach out to the relevant people. When it comes to insurance though, it is quite common in travelers from non-endemic areas who have visited the tropics.
Malaria is transmitted by the bite of infected female anopheline mosquitoes. During feeding (or a bite), mosquitoes inject sporozoites, which circulate to the liver and start an infection, often without symptoms. They are then released by the liver into the bloodstream and rapidly infect red blood cells. One of the biggest problems with malaria is that many forms are not killed with most commercially available drugs and, in addition, even getting over a severe illness is not protective from a relapse of parasites still in the system. Immune status is also important-those who have not been exposed to the disease are at high risk to develop severe forms of it.
A classic attack of malaria begins with a headache and fatigue, followed rapidly by fever. Chills, high fevers and sweats are the classic triad of infection, and in between episodes, affected individuals will look well. Fevers may come in 48 to 72 hour cycles and convulsions and liver failure can occur. Anemia, jaundice, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches are also common.
Since malaria isn’t always suspected early in the disease cycle, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed. Prompt treatment is essential, since uncomplicated malaria responds well when treated appropriately. The overall mortality is close to one in one thousand with prompt diagnosis and therapy. Evaluation for malaria is imperative for those who have traveled to endemic areas and experience sudden and sharp fever.
When diagnosed, malaria should be treated quickly-blood smears show the most accurate diagnosis and rapid serologic diagnostic tests are also helpful. Since symptomatic malaria is caused in the earlier stage when the disease is released by the liver into the red blood cells, prompt administration of anti-malarial drugs is effective at this stage. Therapy, with drugs such as chloroquine, amodiaquine, mefloquine and primaquine, must be administered in adequate doses and for sufficient periods of time.
Travel to some areas of Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America require prophylaxis with medication, administered a few days before leaving on the trip and continued for at least a week after arrival at home. Sometimes the parasites become resistant to medication and newer drugs have to be administered to eradicate the infection.
In those who have had malaria which has been adequately treated and who have gone a significant period of time without reinfection or fevers, the disease is considered eradicated and has no underwriting consequence. However, chronic cases have a much poorer prognosis, and an applicant known to be harboring the infection in spite of treatment would not be considered insurable. Cases in which the disease has affected the heart may suffer from chronic arrhythmias, conduction defects and heart failure, and likewise have poor long term outcomes. Fortunately, most cases of malaria eradicated early and treated adequately do well over time.
