A passing remark launched the project that will be described at the Experimental Biology 2013 conference in Boston on Monday. A poster, presented by undergraduate Ashley McMichael from Albany State University, has preliminary data that hint that there is an association between a rare pregnancy condition and malaria. The remark that launched the project was made by a collaborator of Julie Moore, … [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...]
At what age can you get malaria?
QUESTION What age do you get malaria? ANSWER Malaria is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and therefore any one living where malaria is present, at any age, is susceptible. To prevent malaria, sleep under a long-lasting insecticide treated bednet; make sure it is re-dipped in insecticide every year or so to maintain its efficacy. The mosquitoes which transmit malaria … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention During Pregnancy
QUESTION I am emigrating (moving permanently) to Mozambique – Vilanculos in October after my marriage, I want to fall pregnant. What medicine can I take to prevent malaria during my pregnancy in Mozambique? I am afraid of getting malaria while I am pregnant. I am from South Africa, will the doctors here have a remedy for me to take before I am moving to Vilanculos? Do you know of any malaria … [Read more...]
Malaria in Vietnam, Thailand, Bali
QUESTION: I am 5 months pregnant and I was thinking about going on holiday to Vietnam, Thailand, or Bali. What is the risk of malaria in this countries? RESPONSE: Malaria transmission occurs in all of the nations you mention, though certain areas within these nations are lower risk. You can find out more about specific regions and local antimalarial resistance patterns at the … [Read more...]
Malaria Infection
QUESTION How can you get infected with malaria? ANSWER Malaria is transmitted directly via the bite of an infected mosquito. Only certain female mosquitoes, of the genus Anopheles, can carry malaria. The mosquito picks up the malaria parasite (there are five different types of malaria that infect humans, though all are transmitted in exactly the same way) when it feeds on the blood of an … [Read more...]
Malaria Treatment While Pregnant?
QUESTION: 1) I am two months pregnant. Please, what drug can I use to treat malaria? 2) How often should I treat malaria? ANSWER: The specific answer to your question depends a bit on whether you believe you are already actively infected with malaria (in other words, you are feeling ill right now, or have done recently) or if you would like information on preventing malaria … [Read more...]
Traveling and Pregnant
QUESTION: Hi, I am 3 months pregnant but thinking about going on vacation to Belize in a few weeks time. Should I think about taking something against malaria? ANSWER: It’s good you asked because getting malaria while pregnant can be much more serious than when not pregnant, and can cause terrible problems to both you and your baby. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult your own … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention
Malaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures and chemoprophylaxis. Although very efficacious, none of the recommended interventions are 100% effective. Mosquito Avoidance Measures Because of the nocturnal feeding habits of Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk and dawn. Contact with mosquitoes can be reduced by … [Read more...]
Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Malaria in Pregnant Women on the Thai-Burmese Border
Background: Deworming is recommended by the WHO in girls and pregnant and lactating women to reduce anaemia in areas where hookworm and anaemia are common. There is conflicting evidence on the harm and the benefits of intestinal geohelminth infections on the incidence and severity of malaria, and consequently on the risks and benefits of deworming in malaria affected populations. We examined … [Read more...]