Recurrent malaria, insomnia may be symptoms of depression – says psychiatrist

Sodiq Ojuroungbe

A Psychiatrist, Dr. Sunday Amosu has advised those experiencing persistent malaria symptoms, accompanied by insomnia (inability to sleep) to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis to ascertain if it is not depression or any other serious medical conditions.

The mental health expert noted that people should not dismiss prolonged fever accompanied by sleeping disorder because depression signs and symptoms have semblance with that of malaria.

Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, the psychiatrist explained that someone can be evaluated for depression when there are symptoms like weakness, social disengagement, appetite loss, and a persistent fever.

Dr. Amosu, who is the Head of Drug Addiction Treatment Education Research at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said people with somatic sensations are also likely to be suffering from depression.

While stressing that depression is treatable, the mental health specialist noted that people who wake up in the middle of the night and are unable to fall asleep again are likely to be depressed.

According to him, one of the symptoms to look out for in a depressed person is insomnia, noting that people who have developed depression may find it difficult to fall asleep.

He said, “Sometimes people can have traumatised symptoms and have a fever. When somebody is saying they have a fever every time and you see the person feeling sad, it means the person is depressed. We must know that beyond this fever, there is an underlying problem. If someone is experiencing weakness, withdraws from people, experiences loss of energy, or is not interested in habits that used to be pleasurable, it means that there is more to it than malaria and typhoid.

he said, “Depression is a mood disorder that has to do with whether we are happy or sad. There are normal moods but in this case, you are neither sad nor happy; you are just in-between.

“Depression comes in different severity; there are mild and moderate-severe. When someone starts talking about death, that is severe depression.

“You need to note that when people have Anhedonia, which means loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities and begins to sleep too much, these are also very important signs of depression.

“When someone wakes up in the middle of the night and is unable to go back to sleep or wakes up in the morning and don’t feel refreshed, these are likewise symptoms associated with depression.

“The person will feel worthless, hopeless and helpless. They may begin to feel weak. It is not until the person gets to the level of breaking down in tears or having suicidal thoughts that we know that it is depression.”

The psychiatrist noted that the most common cause of suicidal thoughts is depression, adding that people need to be educated to identify the signs and symptoms of the ailment.

He noted that once people are educated, they will know the possible signs and symptoms of depression.

He, however, said depression can be treated with drugs, adding, “In our immediate environment, we need to take special notice of people with somatic sensations.  This is a situation where people say they can feel something crawling in their head or that they are feeling hot, but when you touch them, their temperature is normal. When you look deeply, you will discover that most of them are depressed and that there is something bothering them that they are unwilling to share.

“Depression, whether mild or severe is an ailment that can be treated with a medication called anti-depressants. Some people will get back on their feet and be fine, while some will require a follow-up because of their age, among other factors.”

According to a report by Healthline, there are a number of ways that depression can make a human being physically sick.

According to the report, depression causes symptoms like exhaustion, headaches, aches and pains.

Meanwhile, the National Headache Foundation revealed that 30 to 60 per cent of people with depression experience headaches.

It noted that depression and related symptoms like stress and anxiety have been shown to cause tension headaches.

“Depression also appears to increase the risk of recurrent headaches of stronger intensity and longer duration. Poor sleep may also contribute to more frequent or stronger headaches.”

Copyright PUNCH

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]