QUESTION How can Thalassaemia effect Malaria infection? ANSWER Thalassaemia is the name given to a group of inherited genetic blood disorders, which result in reduced or no synthesis of one of the globin protein chains that combine to make haemaglobin. Haemaglobin is used to carry oxygen throughout the body and to its organs. Thalassaemia can result in anaemia; in some cases, this is … [Read more...]
Malaria Parasite Picture
QUESTION Please show parasites pictures. ANSWER The first plate below shows various stages of the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria, and the most commonly found type in sub-Saharan Africa. Below that, a similar plate shows a series of images of Plasmodium vivax, the most widespread type of malaria. A: The stages of P. falciparum. 1: Normal red cell; … [Read more...]
Where is malaria found?
QUESTION Where is malaria found? ANSWER Malaria is found throughout the world’s tropical and sub-tropical areas, and mainly in Central and South America, Africa, Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. It is most common in tropical regions, where transmission occurs year-round; in sub-tropical and temperate areas, transmission may only occur during seasons that have appropriate climatic … [Read more...]
Dietary recommedations
QUESTION Can I have the dietary recommendations please. ANSWER I am afraid I do not completely understand your question. There are no known dietary measures that can be used to prevent malaria infection, nor are there and recommended ways of treating malaria with common foods. In the past, people drank tonic water, which contained quinine, as a way of preventing and treating malaria. … [Read more...]
Malaria Relapse
QUESTION Why do I suffer from constant malaria attack? The doctor has prescribed different prescriptions every time I get an attack but its still coming back. What could be the problem? ANSWER There are a number of possible answers to your question. First of all, your doctor might not be prescribing the right type of treatment for the type of malaria that you have. The World Health … [Read more...]
When to Seek Malaria Treatment
QUESTION I have been in New Guinea recently and 2 weeks on am exhibiting all the signs and symptoms of malaria. What is best course of action, considering I do not know what sort of mosquito was hovering about? ANSWER You should visit your physician or a clinic immediately. Depending on where you are, you may have to visit a specialist travel medicine clinic, to be sure that you will be … [Read more...]
Frequent Urination and Malaria
QUESTION Can malaria result in frequent urination, especially during night? ANSWER Malaria can affect the kidneys, especially malaria caused by P. falciparum. This could result in changes to urination patterns. However, at this stage in the infection, the patient would also be experiencing severe fever, chills and other symptoms associated with malaria. The fever would also likely be … [Read more...]
Can malaria be dormant for years?
QUESTION My child (age 5 at time) was bitten by something in Mexico that looked like a mosquito bite. About 7 days later we were home in the US and she developed high fever, headache, chills,sweating at night, extreme fatigue,abdominal pain, and swollen lymph nodes in neck. She had a fever for 40 days! I took her to the pediatrician almost every other day and had immediately informed them of … [Read more...]
Is malaria infectious?
QUESTION Is malaria infectious or noninfectious? ANSWER Malaria is considered an infectious disease because it can be transmitted from one person to another, via the bite of an infected mosquito. Since the parasite that causes malaria is passed through the blood, it can also be transmitted via organ transplant, blood transfusion, or via pregnancy (so-called "congenital" malaria). … [Read more...]
Malaria Medicine for Pregnant Women
QUESTION What medicine can be given to a pregnant woman who has malaria? ANSWER The type of anti-malarial that should be given to a pregnant women depends on the type of malaria they have, its severity and how long she has been pregnant. Chloroquine, quinine and artemisinin-derivatives can be given during all trimesters, but in many places malaria is resistant to chloroquine. In … [Read more...]