QUESTION My 18 yo son in on a study abroad in Bangalore, India. He has been in India since July 1st and toured Northern India the first 6 days that he was there. He woke up yesterday with horrible chills/shakes, then transitioned into a fever for several hours, then fever broke and was sweating for another 3 hours, while having a migraine behind his eyes. He did you go to the doctor and was … [Read more...]
Malaria: Should I See a Doctor?
QUESTION For the last couple of days I am suffering from all the symptoms that are mentioned on your website and I am taking tylenol for these symptoms thinking that it is flu but I am feeling better now. Should I still see a doctor or keep taking Tylenol? ANSWER Symptoms of malaria often include high fever, aches, chills, nausea, and headache. When severe, malaria can lead to anemia, … [Read more...]
Bringing Malaria to the United States
QUESTION I was recently diagnosed with Malaria still waiting to find out what strand, but either got it in Uganda or Rwanda. I have recently came back to the states and have been bit by mosquito. I have already started to take some medication for it, but I am concerned about spreading the virus to others in the states including my family. Is it possible that if I still have the infection to … [Read more...]
Can Malaria Cause Blindness?
QUESTION Can you please help us? My husband got severe malaria and now he’s blind. He stayed 33 days in hospital. We live in Portugal. My husband came back from Africa (Angola) on 2nd June 2012. On 3rd June he started feeling ill. He got worse next days. The symptoms were strong headache, high fever, chills, delirium, vomit, couldn’t breathe and weakness. He went to hospital on 7th June. On … [Read more...]
Mosquito Larvae Eradication
QUESTION What measures can be taken to eradicate mosquito larvae? ANSWER The main methods to control mosquito larval populations are by reducing areas available for adults to breed and also directly killing larvae. So, for example, adult mosquitoes need standing, stagnant water in order to lay their eggs. Getting rid of these sources of standing water, for example by filling in unwanted … [Read more...]
Recurrence of Malaria
QUESTION If a person treated for malaria after being infected from a malaria endemic country of West Africa and cured then he travel back to his country which does not known for malaria endemic region of the world. Question is: Is there any chance of re-occurrence even he is not being exposed to malaria spreading mosquito for some time may be year? Is it true Malaria parasites stays in liver … [Read more...]
Malaria in Pakistan
QUESTION 4 years ago I traveled to FATA Pakistan and in every year in the month of August I caught malaria. Last few days I feel much Headache and fever in the evening and go to doctor. He diagnosed malarial parasites in blood and has advised me take tab artem ds 2 BD for three days after complete the course I feel same headache fever with shivering. Please recommend something. ANSWER I … [Read more...]
Home Remedies for Malaria
QUESTION Are there any home remedies for symptoms of malaria? ANSWER Quinine is a natural chemical which has anti-malarial properties, and tonic water is a good example of an everyday foodstuff which contains quinine. For this reason, over the last hundred-odd years, expatriates living in malarial countries have enjoyed drinking gin and tonic! There are also reports that grapefruit … [Read more...]
Mosquito Life Cycle
QUESTION Please explain the life cycle of a mosquito. ANSWER Mosquitoes are insects which go through several life stages, starting out as eggs, then hatching into larvae before developing into adults. Mosquito eggs are laid in slow-moving or stagnant pools of freshwater, to provide suitable habitat for the larvae once they hatch. Different species of mosquito prefer different water … [Read more...]
How easily is malaria passed between humans?
QUESTION Can malaria be passed between humans if one has a bloody nose or if sex tears the vagina and a small bleed occurs? ANSWER It is extremely unlikely malaria would be transmitted via transfer of small amounts of blood. The only documented examples of direct transmission of malaria between humans is during blood transfusion, organ donation and from a mother to her unborn child, all … [Read more...]