QUESTION What is the annual blood examination rate in West Bengal? ANSWER The annual blood examination rate (ABER) is a measure of the level of diagnostic monitoring activity. Data from 2007 suggested the ABER in West Bengal was around 5%, which is well below the level of 10% which is recommended for active surveillance and is the target of the National Vector Borne Disease Control … [Read more...]
Malaria from Dominican Republic?
QUESTION Hi i just came back from the Dominican Republic. I started to have a mild fever, chills, muscle pains, a headache, and a cough. Today the fever and chills are gone but my cough and headache have gotten worse. It hurts my head a lot when I cough, I feel a lot of pressure in my head. Can you please tell me why my head hurts so much. Is this a symptom of malaria? hope to hear from you … [Read more...]
Late Malaria Confirmation
QUESTION I was given a field diagnosis of malaria 1 1/2years ago and was treated. Can I still get a blood test to confirm if I truly had malaria? ANSWER That's a very interesting question, and the answer is: it depends. Since you were treated, you will no longer have the parasites in your blood stream, and so you cannot use a traditional blood film, looked at under a microscrope, which is … [Read more...]
Malaria Detection
QUESTION what's the newest form of malaria detection? ANSWER While the traditional form of malaria detection has been through microscopy of a blood film slide, two new technologies have recently emerged. The first is the use of reagent strips, which are impregnated with molecules that bind to various other proteins present in the blood during a malaria infection. These reagent strips are … [Read more...]
Fever and Body Aches with Malaria
QUESTION Is bad throat and fever with with body ache the symptom of malaria? ANSWER While fever and body aches are certainly some of the symptoms associated with malaria, a sore throat is well common, but could be the result of enlarged lymph nodes. It is important to note that these symptoms are also present with many other diseases; in fact, the symptoms of malaria are so general that … [Read more...]
Tested Positive for Malaria
QUESTION I was found with malaria 0.25% positive in my test report..... will this make to reject my application from a Malaysian university? ANSWER Malaria is an infection with a parasite of the genus Plasmodium; all types are very treatable, and so even if you have tested positive, you can easily get medication which will allow you to recover fully from the disease. While some … [Read more...]
Joint Pain and Malaria
QUESTION Could an onset of joint pain and swelling plus hurting all over be a residual for someone who has had malaria? ANSWER Once someone has been treated for malaria, they should not experience any further residual effects, particularly if the infection was uncomplicated and treated using oral medication. Joint pain, swelling and pain could well be indications of another infection, and … [Read more...]
Spleen Enlargement with Malaria
QUESTION Will malaria present without splenic enlargement? ANSWER Splenomegaly is commonly one of the early and consistent signs of malaria, with the spleen being palpable sometimes as early as the first paroxysm but usually becoming noticeable after the first week of illness. However, absence of splenic enlargement does not eliminate malaria as the cause of illness, and a blood test … [Read more...]
Does Malaria Still Exist?
QUESTION does malaria still exist? ANSWER Yes, malaria still exists, and is responsible for 250 million cases of illness every year, of which about 700,000 result in death. So it is a very serious global health problem! Some countries, such as the United States, have managed to successfully eliminate malaria through a combination of vector control strategies (i.e. spraying for … [Read more...]
Diagnosing Malaria
QUESTION Where in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) can I diagnose malaria? Is it possible within 24 hours? ANSWER Given that malaria is endemic in Malaysia (though not usually found in Kuala Lumpar) you should be able to get a malaria test at most clinics or hospitals. The most common test is a thick and thin blood film, read under the microscope by a qualified technician—in some places, clinics … [Read more...]