QUESTION Does the goverment help malaria? ANSWER Many governments around the world assist in controlling malaria. Some countries, like Australia and the United States, used to have malaria transmission occur within their own borders, but through dedicated control programs, have managed to eradicate the disease locally. In these cases, the government coordinated huge programs of draining … [Read more...]
What is Malaria?
QUESTION What is malaria? ANSWER Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Four kinds of malaria parasites can infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. … [Read more...]
Headaches, Sweats, Nausea, Fatigue
QUESTION Since visiting Gambia I have been off food, suffering from headaches, sweats, nausea, tiredness and diarrhea after every meal, when I can eat that is. Do you think I should go to the doctor for a test for malaria? ANSWER Yes—whenever you have symptoms that include fever and sweats after visiting an area of high malaria transmission, it is always worthwhile getting a malaria … [Read more...]
How Many Malaria Deaths in Africa?
QUESTION What is the estimated number of deaths in Africa caused by malaria each year? ANSWER The exact numbers of deaths caused by malaria every year is very difficult to measure accurately, due to difficulties in diagnosis and also failure to report cases. However, the Roll Back Malaria partnership, coordinated by a host of international organisations including the World Health … [Read more...]
Malaria Symptoms
QUESTION How does the virus cause the symptoms? ANSWER Malaria is actually not caused by a virus—it is caused by a microscopic single-celled parasite called Plasmodium. Several different species cause malaria in humans, the most common of which are P. vivax and P. falciparum. To describe the process in a very oversimplified way, the malaria parasites cause disease by infecting … [Read more...]
Malaria Testing
QUESTION My daughter is in Kigoma, Tanzania and has the symptoms of Malaria. She was given Duo Cotecxin and it seems to have started making her feel better. But after reading up on all the different types of Malaria parasites I am wondering if a blood test reading at a clinic would be recommended or is it too late for an accurate reading now that she is on meds? ANSWER I am always very … [Read more...]
What is the Meaning of the Word “Malaria”?
QUESTION The word malaria comes from two medievial Italian words meaning? ANSWER Malaria comes from "mal" and "aria," which means "bad air." Before the parasite that caused malaria was discovered, people thought the disease was caused by foul air, and associated it with marshes and low-lying swamps. They were not 100% wrong—those areas are perfect breeding grounds for the mosquitoes … [Read more...]
Duo-Cotecxin and Fansidar as Treatment
QUESTION My husband weighs and has malaria. He was told by the pharmacist to take 2 tablets stat, then 1 daily for five days followed by 3 Fansidar tablets. We live in Papua New Guinea. I see on the Duo-Cotecxin web site the dose is three tabs daily. Which is correct? ANSWER Fansidar is a very different drug to Duo-Cotecxin—it is made of a combination of sulfadoxine and … [Read more...]
How can I get malaria pills?
QUESTION I do have symptoms of severe malaria. How can I get malarial pills in Holland? I went to the hospital the doctors said nothing is wrong with me which is not true. ANSWER If you have the symptoms of severe malaria (high fever, chills, nausea, body aches) then you should go to an emergency room at a hospital immediately. Malaria infection can be very serious if not treated … [Read more...]
Sexual Transmission of Malaria
QUESTION Can malaria be transmitted by having sex with an infected person? ANSWER No. Malaria cannot be transmitted sexually. It is only present in the blood and in certain organs such as the liver and spleen. As such, it is usually only transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito, though in rare cases, it can be transmitted directly via blood transfusion, organ transplant or via the … [Read more...]