QUESTION Can one get malaria through contact with the infected person or is it airborne? ANSWER Malaria cannot be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person, nor is it airborne! It is actually transmitted directly via the bite of an infected mosquito. Only certain female mosquitoes, of the genus Anopheles, can carry malaria. The mosquito picks up the malaria parasite … [Read more...]
Drugs to Treat Pregnant Woman with Malaria
QUESTION: What are the drugs for a pregnant woman who has malaria for the first to third trimester? ANSWER: The treatment of malaria in pregnant women has become more challenging in recent years, as many types of malaria are developing resistance to the standard arsenal of drugs. In locations where the dominant form of malaria is still chloroquine-sensitive, chloroquine can be used safely … [Read more...]
REVIEW: The Use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy to Protect Against Malaria Infection
Review of Le Port A, et al. (2011), ‘Prevention of Malaria during Pregnancy: Assessing the Effect of the Distribution of IPTp Through the National Policy in Benin’, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 84 (Issue 2): pp 270-275 … [Read more...]
Does malaria spread from a person to another?
QUESTION: Can malaria spread from one person to another? ANSWER: Usually, no. In most cases, the malaria parasite has to first pass from a human host into a mosquito as the mosquito takes a blood meal, and then from the mosquito into another human via the mosquito's saliva. This severely limits the amount of person-to-person transmission that exists. In fact, the only mechanisms for … [Read more...]
What age can be affected by malaria?
QUESTION: A child of what age can be affected from cerebral malaria or malaria? ANSWER: People of all ages can be affected by malaria, which is what makes it such a public health burden in so many places. Severe symptoms of the disease, such as the manifestation of cerebral malaria that you mention, can also be seen in children of all ages as well as adults. However, generally, younger … [Read more...]
Reduce Risk of p.falciparum
QUESTION: I am laboratories man. My question is the risk of P. falciparum especially for mother and children is very high. How can we reduce this risk? ANSWER: That's a crucial question for malaria control. Certainly, as you say, the risk of severe malaria is much greater for young children and for pregnant women. As such, these high risk groups should be targeted during prevention … [Read more...]