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...]
Malaria Prophylaxis and Getting Pregnant
QUESTION I will be traveling to the Ivory Coast for two weeks. I will be staying with my in-laws in the city in very clean conditions with a/c etc. I am a strict vegetarian so I will be bringing most of my food and will have access to clean water. I myself grew up in an undeveloped nation so I am used to precautions needed to prevent illness. However, mosquitoes do seem to love to bite me. I … [Read more...]
Name of Malaria Parasite
QUESTION What is the parasite of malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. There are four main types of malaria which infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale. P. ovale additionally can be split into two sub-species, P. o. curtisi and P. o. wallikeri. Each of these five … [Read more...]
Can my 14 day old daughter have malaria?
QUESTION My 14 day old daughter has a body temperature of about 38.3 C and breathes a bit rapidly. Can it be a sign of malaria? ANSWER In newborns, it is sometimes difficult to tell exactly what is wrong. The majority of newborns who get sick after delivery, get an infection (from bacteria, not malaria). WHO and UNICEF have identified the following "danger signs." If the baby … [Read more...]
Malaria and Impact on Society
QUESTION Where malaria is occurring, and what is the impact on society? ANSWER Malaria takes a huge toll, personally as well as in the larger society. It has been estimated that malaria costs Africa $12 billion USD every year, including the cost of health care, days off school and work, decreased productivity, and loss of investment and tourism. Malaria in Africa slows economic growth … [Read more...]
Malaria Symptoms and Diagnosis
QUESTION My husband is currently working in Mozambique, and is sick with a fever, headache, and pain in his joints. Can this be malaria? ANSWER It could be. Your husband should go to the clinic and get tested. The standard diagnosis for malaria depends on the demonstration of parasites on a blood smear examined under a microscope. In some settings, where microscopic examination is … [Read more...]
ECOWAS Program to Eradicate Malaria
QUESTION Why can I find no mention on your website of the ECOWAS program to eradicate malaria in their countries? ANSWER Thanks for bringing up ECOWAS. Since 2011, ECOWAS leaders have signaled a commitment to eradicating malaria in their region by 2015, and pilot programs are already underway in several countries, including Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana. The program has centered on the use … [Read more...]