QUESTION My friend suffers malaria due to plasmodium falsciparum at least every two weeks. It has been treated with coartem, artequine, artesunate+fansida, quinine/quinimax since 2004 without any relief at all. It returns a week or two later and lab tests attest to same. What else should be done? ANSWER It is rare for someone living in an endemic area to suffer so regularly from … [Read more...]
Quinine Side Effects
QUESTION What are the side effects of quinine? ANSWER The main side effect of quinine, in therapeutic doses, is cinchonism or quinism. This is a condition associated with a number of symptoms, including flushed/sweaty skin, tinnitus, confusion, headaches, and more. Mild cinchonism should not be a reason to cease treatment with quinine, however. If injected into a nerve, quinine can … [Read more...]
Malaria Cure
QUESTION What is the cure for malaria? ANSWER Malaria can be cured with a number of different medications, depending on then type of malaria and how far the disease has been progressed. For standard, non-complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the World Health Organisation recommends use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as Coartem. This is due to increasing … [Read more...]
Injections for Malaria Treatment?
QUESTION I have a friend that just told me that she has Malaria. She said she has to go to the hospital every day for an injection for around the next 2 weeks. Is this a typical treatment. Why not just take pills? I`m just trying to wrap my head around this and understand the different treatments. ANSWER This is certainly not typical treatment for malaria. Uncomplicated malaria is usually … [Read more...]
Discovery of Cinchona
QUESTION Cinchona was discovered in which country? ANSWER "Cinchona" refers to a genus of trees which are known for having strong alkaloid compounds in their bark, and notably one which has anti-malarial properties. This particular alkaloid is now known as "quinine." Cinchona trees are native to South America, and were long used by native people to treat fevers—as such, it is perhaps … [Read more...]
How is Malaria Treated
QUESTION How is malaria treated? ANSWER This answer is copied from an earlier question about the various available cures for malaria. Malaria can be cured with a number of different medications, depending on then type of malaria and how far the disease has been progressed. For standard, non-complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the World Health Organisation recommends use of … [Read more...]
How is Malaria Cured?
QUESTION How is malaria cured? ANSWER Malaria can be cured with a number of different medications, depending on then type of malaria and how far the disease has been progressed. For standard, non-complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the World Health Organisation recommends use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as Coartem. This is due to increasing levels of … [Read more...]
History of Fighting Malaria
QUESTION What are some examples of attempts of fighting this disease that happened in the past? ANSWER The battle against malaria has been going on, in one form or another, for literally thousands of years. The ancient Chinese mention the symptoms of the disease in a medical scroll as early as 2700 BCE - even more remarkably, a herb called Artemesia has been used in traditional Chinese … [Read more...]
Treatment for Malaria
QUESTION: What is the main medicine to cure malaria and about safety precautions? ANSWER: There are a number of medicines used to treat malaria. Traditionally, chloroquine has been the first line drug of choice for uncomplicated, non-resistant malaria. However, several types of malaria, and most notably Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe and deadly kind, has become resistant to … [Read more...]
Drugs for Malaria
QUESTION What drugs are used in the treatment of malaria? ANSWER There are a number of medicines used to treat malaria. Traditionally, chloroquine has been the first line drug of choice for uncomplicated, non-resistant malaria. However, several types of malaria, and most notably Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe and deadly kind, has become resistant to chloroquine in many places. In … [Read more...]