QUESTION: A child of what age can be affected from cerebral malaria or malaria? ANSWER: People of all ages can be affected by malaria, which is what makes it such a public health burden in so many places. Severe symptoms of the disease, such as the manifestation of cerebral malaria that you mention, can also be seen in children of all ages as well as adults. However, generally, younger … [Read more...]
Where does malaria appear?
QUESTION: Where does malaria first appears on the body? ANSWER: That's a very interesting question! You could say that malaria first appears in the blood, since that is how the parasite enters the human body—it passes into our bloodstream when an infected mosquito penetrates the skin to feed on blood. The life cycle below, courtesy of CDC, explains more about the next stages of … [Read more...]
Malaria Treatment While Pregnant?
QUESTION: 1) I am two months pregnant. Please, what drug can I use to treat malaria? 2) How often should I treat malaria? ANSWER: The specific answer to your question depends a bit on whether you believe you are already actively infected with malaria (in other words, you are feeling ill right now, or have done recently) or if you would like information on preventing malaria … [Read more...]
How does malaria infect the body?
QUESTION: How does malaria infect the body? ANSWER: Malaria is transmitted to humans via certain species of mosquito. The parasite that causes malaria, called Plasmodium (there are several species, which cause slightly different forms of the disease), lives in the saliva of the mosquito and is introduced into the human blood when the mosquito bites through the skin. It is interesting to … [Read more...]
Is there malaria in Papua New Guinea?
QUESTION: Is Papua New Guinea infected of malaria? ANSWER: There is malaria in many parts of Papua New Guinea, and especially in the coastal regions. Chloroquine-resistant malaria has been reported from PNG so if travelling to malarial zones in the country you should ask your doctor about getting a prescription for another form of prophylaxis (preventative drugs), such as Malarone, Lariam … [Read more...]
How did malaria start?
QUESTION: When did malaria happen? ANSWER: It is believed that Plasmodium, the parasite which causes malaria in a wide variety of animals, first evolved in reptiles. Even today, reptiles are infected by species of Plasmodium that are related to those that infect humans. The parasite probably then evolved to infect birds, and then, more recently, to infect mammals. Many mammals can be … [Read more...]
Is there Malaria in Naboomspruit, South Africa?
QUESTION: Is Naboomspruit in South-Africa a malaria area? ANSWER: Naboomspruit (also known as Mookgopong) is located in Limpopo province in South Africa; malaria is endemic in parts of this province, namely the eastern border of South Africa (next to Mozambique and Swaziland), and including popular tourist areas such as Kruger National Park. In these regions, precautions against malaria, … [Read more...]
Drinking Milk While Infected with Malaria
QUESTION: Can a malaria-infected person drink milk? ANSWER: As far as I know, there isn't a problem with drinking milk while suffering from malaria. In fact, it is generally a good idea to keep as hydrated as possible while feverish (although water or diluted juice would probably be better for hydration). There is also some evidence that drinking milk can settle the stomach while taking … [Read more...]
How many people die from malaria annually?
QUESTION: How many people die each year from malaria? ANSWER: There is a wide range of estimates for the total number of deaths caused by malaria, but the World Health Organisation generally reports "around a million" deaths each year from the disease, out of somewhere between 300-500 million cases. In total, it is estimated that 3.3 billion people are at risk from malaria, which is … [Read more...]
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) and Coartem Interaction
QUESTION Can I take paracetamol (acetaminophen) with Coartem? ANSWER Yes - there are no known drug interactions or contra-indications between these two medications. Paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the USA) is a very effective way of reducing fever so can be used to this end, together with specific anti-malaria medication such as Coartem, during a malaria attack. … [Read more...]