QUESTIONWhat Cell count defines malaria??ANSWERIf you are referring to the cell count for diagnosis, then really the answer is that if ANY malaria parasites are observed in a blood film, then the slide should be considered positive for malaria. Of course, some people can have low levels of parasite in their blood, which are not easily detected under a microscope, using a blood slide. … [Read more...]
Multiple Malaria Infections Each Year
QUESTIONMy name is Olumide and I live in Nigeria. I have had malaria too frequently and it's giving me a lot of concern. I had one last August 2012 and am having another one this October as I am speaking with you. If I should count it, I'll be having nothing less than 6 occurrences in a year. It's always an headache induced malaria whereby after using the ACT combination recommended by WHO, … [Read more...]
Malaria or Kidney Infection?
QUESTIONTwo months ago my daughter was in Uganda working and when came back to the States she was hospitalized for 4 days with Malaria symptoms. Her tests came back negative they really didn't act like they knew how to treat this. They kept telling her they didn't know how to diagnosis Malaria. So they treated her for it. She now after 2 months is once again hospitalized with the same … [Read more...]
Positive RDT After Malaria Treatment
QUESTIONI have Pv malaria repeated 2 times in two month then doctor give arthemether, lumefantrine tablet for three days twice in a day and primaquine tablet for 14 days..after this treatment malaria show positive on rapid test by a faint line....what is this?ANSWERIt sounds like your doctor has treated you appropriately. What the line on the rapid test means depends a bit on the type … [Read more...]
Empty Stomach for Malaria Test?
QUESTIONDo we have to go empty stomach for test of malaria?ANSWERNo - for a malaria test, they will take your blood and either look at it under the microscope or use it in a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria. Neither of these tests will be affected by whether you eat or not. … [Read more...]
Malaria Diagnosis
QUESTIONHow to identify malaria? My son has fever and headache for the past three days and also vomiting. Is treatment is necessary and what type of treatment he needs?ANSWERYou need to take your son to the doctor or to a clinic where they can do a blood test to look for malaria. They will either look at his blood under a microscope or use his blood in a "rapid diagnostic test" (RDT), … [Read more...]
Untreated Malaria
QUESTIONIf I am infected with malaria and I get a wrong diagnosis and be treated for flu, can the other symptoms disappear but continue to experience severe headache especially on the right side temple and jawbone area combined with general weakness and numbness in the legs?ANSWERCertainly the symptoms of malaria can often be confused with other infections, including flu. Given that … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Blood Test: Malaria in Nepal and India
QUESTIONMy daughter has returned from a 6 week trip to Nepal and then India. About 20 minutes into the flight home she developed pains and aches in her hips and legs, fever, generally feeling dreadful but no nausea or diarrhea. When she arrived after the 10 hour flight her temperature was 100.5. We were concerned about malaria, but when she saw her primary care doctor the next morning she … [Read more...]
Can’t Get Rid of Malaria
QUESTIONEach and every month I am suffering from malaria ..Treatment is also going on but I am unable to get rid of it.ANSWERIt is very unusual to be reinfected so constantly with malaria. First of all, how are you getting diagnosed? You should be getting a blood test, and not relying on symptoms only; the symptoms of malaria are very general and it could be that you are suffering from … [Read more...]
Repeated Malaria
QUESTIONSince January 2011 I got three times malaria. Is it come regularly? Last week also I got maleria and I took medicine but still I have mild headache and sweating feeling tiredenes in between..ANSWERThe timing of the repeated malaria episodes you have experienced means that it could be recrudescence (where treatment does not completely kill all the malaria parasites in your … [Read more...]