Abstract High-dose chemotherapy has long been advocated as a means of controlling drug resistance in infectious diseases but recent empirical studies have begun to challenge this view. We develop a very general framework for modeling and understanding resistance emergence based on principles from evolutionary biology. We use this framework to show how high-dose chemotherapy engenders opposing … [Read more...]
Malaria in Pakistan
QUESTION4 years ago I traveled to FATA Pakistan and in every year in the month of August I caught malaria. Last few days I feel much Headache and fever in the evening and go to doctor. He diagnosed malarial parasites in blood and has advised me take tab artem ds 2 BD for three days after complete the course I feel same headache fever with shivering. Please recommend something.ANSWERI … [Read more...]
Antimalarial Drugs During pPregnancy
QUESTIONWhat is the safest antimalarial drug to be used by a pregnant woman in her second trimester?ANSWERWith regards to treating malaria, intravenous artesunate (or quinine, if artesunate is not available) should be used for the treatment of severe/complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Signs of severe and/or complicated malaria include impaired consciousness, organ failure, … [Read more...]
How is Malaria Prevented?
QUESTIONWhat are the methods to prevent malaria?ANSWERMalaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures and chemoprophylaxis. Although very efficacious, none of the recommended interventions are 100% effective. Mosquito Avoidance MeasuresBecause of the nocturnal feeding habits of Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk … [Read more...]
How is Malaria Treated
QUESTIONhow is malaria treated?ANSWERMalaria 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 treatment are active … [Read more...]
Dormant Malaria
QUESTIONI was bitten by mosquitoes many years ago and I was wondering can the symptoms lie dormant for as long as 40 years? The reason I am asking is that every summer I am ill with several of these symptoms. I do not have a good immune system.ANSWERThere are a couple of types of malaria, namely Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale, which can lie dormant for many years, and often … [Read more...]
Drug-Resistant Malaria Threatens Effort to Control Disease
A team of researchers from the United States and Thailand says the growing number of cases of drug-resistant malaria being reported in Thailand and neighboring countries threatens the worldwide campaign to control and eliminate the mosquito-borne disease. The malaria parasite in the region is becoming resistant to the first-line malaria therapy - artemisinin combination treatment - and experts say … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention
QUESTIONWhat are the ways in which you can prevent yourself from being infected with malaria?ANSWERMalaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures (since malaria is transmitted by infected mosquitoes) and chemoprophylaxis (medication to prevent the establishment of malaria in your body, if you do get bitten). Although very efficacious, none of the … [Read more...]
Resistance to Malaria Treatments Seriously Compromises Efforts to Eliminate Malaria
Scientists have found new evidence that resistance to the front-line treatments for malaria is increasing.They have confirmed that resistant strains of the malaria parasite on the border between Thailand and Burma, 500 miles (800km) away from previous sites.Researchers say that the rise of resistance means the effort to eliminate malaria is "seriously compromised".The details have been … [Read more...]
Antimalarial Drug Therapeutic Life
QUESTIONWhy do some antimalarial drugs have long therapeutic life while others have short therapeutic lives?ANSWERDifferent anti-malarial drugs target slightly different aspects of the malaria Plasmodium parasite, and so are made with different chemical structures.The differences in therapeutic life across different malaria drugs has to do with the specific pharmacokinetic … [Read more...]