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...]
Malaria and Ross River Fever
QUESTION Is malaria similar to Ross river Fever which is common in Australia? If you have Ross River and get bitten by a mosquito can the mosquito pass it on to some one else. ANSWER Ross River fever is similar to malaria in that both are transmitted by mosquitoes. However, Ross River fever is caused by a virus, whereas malaria is caused by a protozoan (single-celled) parasite. Also, the … [Read more...]
Malaria In Africa
QUESTION What factors cause Africans to get this disease? ANSWER The highest number of malaria cases every year occur in Africa, not because of anything specifically due to the people living there (in fact, they may be better protected against malaria than most—I will come onto this later) but because malaria transmission is very high in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa and … [Read more...]
What are the symptoms of malaria?
QUESTION What are the symptoms of malaria? ANSWER Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Symptoms usually appear between 10 and 15 days after … [Read more...]