Mosquito bite warning: Malaria can cause THIS life-changing side-effect

Larry Lamb: He suffered hearing loss after contracting malaria

The mosquito-borne infectious disease is life-threatening and causes over one million deaths worldwide per year.
However, 300 to 600 million people suffer annually, according to UNICEF, meaning that many are now able
to overcome it thanks to improvements in treatment.
The majority of cases - roughly 90 per cent - occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Indeed, it was this continent where actor Larry Lamb - best known for roles in Eastenders and Gavin & Stacey - caught the potentially-fatal disease following a charity trip in 2010


Mosquito: They can infect humans with malaria when they bite

According to the NHS, symptoms can develop as quickly as seven days after you’re bitten.
Initial signs may be flu-like, such as a high temperature, headache, sweats, chills and vomiting.
Other side-effects can include muscle pains, diarrhoea and generally feeling unwell.
Lamb told the Express.co.uk: “I felt terribly ill and knew there was something wrong, but I left it for a day or so to see if it was flu before going to get myself checked out. It was like the worst hangover in the world – I felt physically sick, weak and had awful feverish nights.


Malaria symptoms: Fever is a sign

“I was taken to hospital in the middle of the night and had to be rehydrated as I’d been sweating so much, and it just went on and on and on. I’d say it lasted about six weeks, then it took about three months to feel better. It was a truly gruesome experience.
“It took several months before I was completely over it, so it’s not something to be taken lightly. If there are precautions available, take them. It’s as easy as popping into your local Boots and asking their specially trained pharmacists for advice so you can enjoy your summer.”
In some cases, malaria can cause other complications such as breathing problems or hearing loss.
It was the latter Lamb was permanently left with - he lost 80 per cent of the hearing in his right ear.

 
 Hearing loss: Larry Lamb suffered an 80 per cent loss in his right ear

He said: “The major long term effect I have suffered is hearing loss in my right ear – which is such a consequence it’s compelled me to speak out to warn others.
“I’d woken up with one of the terrible fevers, and my first thought was just trying to cool myself down. Then I noticed this terrible problem with my ear, it almost felt like there was water in it. I went and had tests, and it turned out the nerve endings that transmit sound to my brain had been shattered by the fever.
“It’s like what can happen to children when they have measles. People need to be aware of these things and make sure they seek health advice for their whole family before they travel.
“I now take lots of precautions when I go abroad - using the Boots Online Quick Check Tool to check which vaccinations should be considered when going abroad.”

 Complications: Hearing loss can happen as a result of the condition

There are currently 34 types of mosquitoes in the UK, but experts explain that we shouldn’t be too worried.
James Logan, Professor of Medical Entomology and Director of arctec at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “Currently we do not have an established population of the mosquitoes capable of transmitting these diseases in the UK, however with increased travel and climate change we could see the emergence of cases, if the competent species adapt to our climate.
“In the last 10 years - between 2006 and 2015 - the total number of imported malaria cases, meaning those infected abroad, reported in the UK each year has been fluctuating around an average of 1,547.”
Antimalarials are medications designed to prevent or cure malaria.
Angela Chalmers, Boots pharmacist, said: “If you are visiting areas such as South East Asia and Africa then you would be wise to consider malaria prevention. However, malaria is not limited to these areas and so it’s worth coming in to speak to your pharmacist who will be able to advise you whether antimalarials are required and on what preventative measures are necessary.”