QUESTION What is malaria's scientific name? ANSWER The genus name for the single-celled parasite which causes malaria is Plasmodium. In the genus, there are five species which infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum (the most deadly kind), P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. … [Read more...]
Complete Course of Anti-Malarial Drugs
QUESTION Hi, I am in Goa and so far have not been bitten by anything. I am taking anti malaria tablets which I do not like. My question is this. If I do not receive any bites do I need to complete the course when I get home? ANSWER It is always better to complete the course of anti-malarials, just in case you actually did get bitten but just did not notice it. However, in some cases, the … [Read more...]
Malaria Drug Binding Site
QUESTION What is malaria, and drug binding site? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a single-celled protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. Five kinds of Plasmodium are known to infect people: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. There is no one drug binding site with respect to malaria: different anti-malarial drugs have different modes of action, and not all … [Read more...]
Celebral Malaria and Blindness
QUESTION I live in Nigeria. Good friend of mine complained of headaches in Dec 2011. Did an MRI went to Germany had a general check up. Back in Nigeria in January, headaches increase, she gets blind in one eye, following day the other eye, now in Germany where they have induced her into a coma. They said that she got a brain Haemorrage from the malaria. Can malaria bring blindness. What are the … [Read more...]
Malaria, Hepatitis and Cholera Deaths
QUESTION Up to now how many people died of malaria? Up to now how many people died of Hepatitis A? Up to now how many people died of Cholera? ANSWER It is believed that malaria is singly responsible for the most deaths of humans in history. However, the exact number is impossible to know. Our modern concept of disease as caused by a particular organisms or pathogen is very new, … [Read more...]
Is it possible to inherit malaria?
QUESTION I was wondering is it possible for a father who contracted malaria in the Korean War to pass it to his unborn child. ANSWER No. Malaria can only be transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and in rare cases, through infected blood, for example from a blood transfusion or organ transplant. Mothers can transmit malaria to their unborn babies via the placenta or through … [Read more...]
Geographic Range of Malaria
QUESTION Has the geographic range of malaria increased over the past 20 - 30 years? I have read that preventative measures have helped lower rates of infection, but I'm interested in the extension of the range itself. ANSWER That is a very interesting question, and one that garners quite a lot of debate. Preventative measures have actually also helped to limit the range of malaria … [Read more...]
Malaria in KwaZulu Natal
QUESTION How many people are infected by malaria in KZN? ANSWER By "KNZ" I assume you mean KwaZulu Natal (for the benefit of other readers, this is a region of South Africa, in the north-eastern portion of the country). KZN is one of the few parts of South Africa that experiences malaria transmission, though effective control measures have reduced its impact as a public health threat. … [Read more...]
Why not create a vaccine for malaria?
QUESTION Why not create a vaccine for malaria? ANSWER There are many teams of scientists working hard to try to produce a malaria vaccine. In fact, only last year, the preliminary results of a vaccine trial were published. The vaccine, called RTS,S, has been produced by GlaxoSmithKline and is in the midst of Phase III trials in Africa. The preliminary results showed approximately a … [Read more...]
Malaria Recurrence and Treatment
QUESTION Since September 2011 I had malaria falciparum. The first medication I took was Coartem, after 2 weeks I had the same symptoms then the test was +1.5 ,i took Coartem again. 2 weeks after the doctor gave me Malarone ,then 19 days it come back . the doc. gave me Quinine -tablets without doxycycline. but no thing change. Until now each 14-25 days the malaria comes back, I ask my doctor … [Read more...]