QUESTION: Is there any tested and proven diet therapy for acute malaria? What food nutrients are essential for prevention of malaria? And what are their food sources? ANSWER: Thanks for your question, Ekuma. I am not aware of any proven and scientifically tested diet therapy for acute malaria, apart from that which is recommended for all severe fevers, which is to hydrate regularly and … [Read more...]
Malaria Treatment While Pregnant?
QUESTION: 1) I am two months pregnant. Please, what drug can I use to treat malaria? 2) How often should I treat malaria? ANSWER: The specific answer to your question depends a bit on whether you believe you are already actively infected with malaria (in other words, you are feeling ill right now, or have done recently) or if you would like information on preventing malaria … [Read more...]
Médecins Sans Frontières Calls for Switch from Quinine to Artesunate
After the revision of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines yesterday, international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) calls for a drug proven to reduce deaths in children suffering from severe malaria to be immediately rolled out in African countries. In its new report, entitled "Making the Switch," Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) … [Read more...]
Drinking Milk While Infected with Malaria
QUESTION: Can a malaria-infected person drink milk? ANSWER: As far as I know, there isn't a problem with drinking milk while suffering from malaria. In fact, it is generally a good idea to keep as hydrated as possible while feverish (although water or diluted juice would probably be better for hydration). There is also some evidence that drinking milk can settle the stomach while taking … [Read more...]
Canadian Researchers Develop Inexpensive Malaria Treatment
Scientists in Saskatoon, Canada have developed a malaria treatment that will help fight malaria, which kills about one million people each year. The new developments which will provide an affordable, reliable, and stable treatment for malaria and is likely to save millions of lives, especially those of women and children in Africa. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and … [Read more...]
Malaria Treatment
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 treatment are active against the parasite forms in the blood (the form … [Read more...]
Urgent Action Essential to Protect Malaria Therapies, Says WHO
The world risks losing its most potent treatment for malaria unless steps are quickly taken to prevent the development and spread of drug resistant parasites, according to a new action plan released today by WHO and Roll Back Malaria partnership (RBM). The Global plan for artemisinin resistance containment outlines the necessary actions to contain and prevent resistance to artemisinins, … [Read more...]
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) and Coartem Interaction
QUESTION Can I take paracetamol (acetaminophen) with Coartem? ANSWER Yes - there are no known drug interactions or contra-indications between these two medications. Paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the USA) is a very effective way of reducing fever so can be used to this end, together with specific anti-malaria medication such as Coartem, during a malaria attack. … [Read more...]