QUESTION what are the methods for community based management for malaria? ANSWER Community-based management of malaria revolves around three main principles: prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Prevention mainly revolves around stopping mosquitoes from biting people. Methods for this include distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bednets (and teaching people to use them … [Read more...]
Free Medical Care for Malaria
QUESTION Can you get free medical help for someone In Nigeria that has malaria? ANSWER Theoretically, the Nigerian government should provide basic services, including malaria diagnosis, through primary care clinics which are administered by local government. In addition, Nigeria has recently instituted a National Health Insurance program, which again should assist in providing health care … [Read more...]
Is Malaria Contagious Between Humans?
QUESTION If someone has malaria, is it contagious? ANSWER No. Malaria cannot be transmitted via touching or saliva or air. In virtually all cases, it is only transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, and so cannot be passed from one person to another. There are a few exception—because the parasite lives in certain organs and in the blood, it can sometimes be transmitted via … [Read more...]
Malaria Diagnosis
QUESTION How 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? ANSWER You 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...]
Which Medication to Take for Malaria Treatment
QUESTION Which medicion should we take during malaria? ANSWER Malaria can be a severe, potentially fatal disease (especially when caused by Plasmodium falciparum) and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible. Patients who have severe P. falciparum malaria or who cannot take oral medications should be given the treatment by continuous intravenous infusion. Most drugs used in … [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 Test – Can Malaria Return?
QUESTION I am working in Tanzania. I felt sick about 10 days ago and I went for a test for malaria and the test was positive. The doctor gave me some pills and said I must come back in one week for a test again. I went back and it was negative but now I don't feel too good. Is it possible for the malaria to come back after 10 days? ANSWER It is unlikely that the malaria has come back, and … [Read more...]
Paracetamol to Control Fever
QUESTION If I take paracetamol to help control my temperature will it affect my blood test results— can they fail to detect the plasmodium? ANSWER No—taking paracetamol (also called acetaminophen, and sold variously as Tylenol, Panadol and other brand names) is a good way to control your temperature during malaria infection, and it won't affect your blood test results. If you … [Read more...]
Long Term Health Effects of Malaria
QUESTION Ten years ago, at the age of 21, I contracted both forms of malaria. I was severely unwell with falciparum, losing around 15kgs over the course of a week, and I suffered one relapse. I had ongoing vivax for 2 and a half years. I would like to know if there are any known long term complications, or possible health problems I may encounter in the future as a result of having had … [Read more...]
Death from Malaria: Humans and Other Primates
QUESTION If not treated in some form, do most who acquire malaria die? What about primates, such as orangutans that live in the wild and would not be treated as such. Do they die or do they become chronically ill within period of remission? ANSWER That's a really good question, and the answer is: it depends! In humans, the most deadly form of malaria is Plasmodium falciparum—when … [Read more...]