QUESTION After taking chloroquine injection ( which works for me) I am having occassional bitter taste and severe nasal congestion, please what would you advise I take? ANSWER I am not sure why you are taking chloroquine injections. Chloroquine, taken orally, can be used as a preventive drug (except in Asia where there is choroquine resistance to plasmodium falciparum) and also for … [Read more...]
Falciparum Long-term Outcomes
QUESTION My husband was admitted to ICU for 22% falciparum parasite load (with some mild kidney and liver failure, as well as low blood pressure) after being overseas two weeks earlier. They treated him with IV artesunate and oral Malarone and an exchange transfusion, and discharged him after a week, as his kidneys had improved and so had his blood pressure, and he wasn't yellow anymore. He … [Read more...]
Favism (G6PD Deficiency) and Malaria
QUESTION My son has Favism (G6PD deficient). He is going to stay for 2 years in Chad (malaria-endemic country). It is contraindicated for him to take antimalarial drugs. What can we do if he gets a malaria infection? One physician said that he can use Artelum (Artemether + Lumefantrine) for protection. Is it a right prescription? ANSWER Yes, you are correct that Primaquine (which along … [Read more...]
After Effects of Malaria
QUESTION If I had malaria about a month ago is it normal to still get nauseous on a daily basis and often even vomit? ANSWER It sometimes takes a few days or even a couple of weeks to fully recover from the infection, since it takes quite a toll on the body’s immune system. Also, the medication you take to treat malaria can also have side effects, such as nausea and headaches, which … [Read more...]
Precautions to Prevent Malaria
QUESTION What precautions can be taken to prevent malaria? ANSWER This is a common question. Communities can try to control or eliminate mosquitoes (who when infected with the malaria parasite can bite humans and transmit the disease) by spraying with insecticide, using biological agents, or draining mosquito breeding areas. These methods are called vector control. On a personal level, … [Read more...]
Malaria Deaths in Africa
QUESTION How many humans die of malaria in Africa? ANSWER According to the World Health Organization's Roll Back Malaria programme (Roll Back Malaria - Key Facts), 665,000 people died from malaria globally in 2010, with 91% or 596,000 people dying in Africa alone. Eighty-six (86%) of deaths were in children under five years of age. … [Read more...]
Time Allowed for Malaria Treatment
QUESTION How long does a person have to get to a doctor if they suspect they may have malaria? ANSWER Once you suspect you have malaria (symptoms include very high fever, chills, head and body ache etc) you should seek care and have a blood smear done to identify the parasite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. If … [Read more...]
Anti Malaria Tablets – When to Start
QUESTION I am due to travel to South Goa on 27th October 2012. It is 9th Oct now. It says I should start taking my tablets 1 week before traveling, however I was wondering if it was okay to start taking them now so my body can get used to the side affects before I travel. I do not want to be ill all the time whilst I am away. ANSWER Yes, you do need to take preventive medicine against … [Read more...]
What measures can local people take to limit malaria infection?
QUESTION What measures can local people take to limit malaria infection? ANSWER People living in malarial areas can do a lot to protect themselves from getting malaria. There are community programs for vector control (to control or eliminate mosquitoes) that include draining swamps to remove mosquito breeding habitat, spraying with insecticide, and using biological control … [Read more...]
Symptoms of Malaria
QUESTION What are the symptoms of malaria? ANSWER This is a frequently asked question. Please see Malaria Symptoms and Causes for more information. The most common symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. If you think you may have malaria because you have these symptoms you should seek help including a blood … [Read more...]