Childhood Diseases and Illnesses
Malaria (Plasmodium)
Description/Symptoms
- Caused by a parasite.
- Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, pain and chills. The fever may recur every 2 to 3 days. The illness can be very severe.
- Malaria is spread when an infected mosquito bites a human and injects a parasite into the blood, by injection or transfusion of infected blood or use of contaminated needles and syringes.
- The time between the infective bite and the appearance of symptoms varies with the type of parasite
Instructions for Schools
- Needs to be reported to Peel Public Health. Please see Handling and Reporting Communicable Diseases for reporting procedures.
- For reporting cases, complete a Notification of Disease in Schools form (PDF 171KB, 2 Pages).
- Exclusion is not necessary. Child should be allowed to return when well enough to participate in all activities.
- Promote routine practices.
- Remember to protect the confidentiality of the student by not disclosing a diagnosis to concerned parents and/or colleagues. If contact follow up of those exposed is required Peel Public Health will contact those who are at risk.
Notes
- Malaria is most commonly acquired outside of Canada.
- When travelling to an area where malaria exists, discuss the need for anti-malarial medication with a doctor.
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