QUESTION: Is ARCEVA a good vaccine for malaria? ANSWER: ARCEVA isn't a vaccine for malaria, but it is a brand name of one type of medication used to treat the disease. It belongs to the group of drugs called artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which are recommended by the World Health Organisation to treat uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most … [Read more...]
Diagnosed with Malaria in Nigeria
QUESTION: Hi my twin sister is in Nigeria on a 5 month missions trip. She has just been diagnosed with Malaria, they believe she got it a year ago in El Salvador and that it has been dormant in her system, she has week kidneys and has chronic high blood pressure due to childhood illnesses she has had her whole life. She is in the Northern part of Nigeria and the hospitals there are no real … [Read more...]
Did I have malaria before?
I am from East Africa. On July 3rd,2011 I had chills and I consulted a doctor, he did a blood test and told me I had malaria and gave me medication. Then after 10 days I had neck pain and I went again to the doctor, who did another blood test, diagnosed malaria and gave medication. Then after 10 days it repeated. It's now the 22nd august,2011. I have pain in my neck and I went to another … [Read more...]
G6PD and Malaria
QUESTION: Does one need to have a normal result in G6PD screening before he can take Malarial pills? ANSWER: In some cases, yes. When a patient has been diagnosed with Plasmodium ovale or Plasmodium vivax infection, in addition to medication such as chloroquine to target the blood stages of the parasite, an additional drug, called primaquine, may also be required. Primaquine kills the … [Read more...]
Will malaria come back?
QUESTION: As a result of a blood test I have just been informed that at some time I have had malaria. Though I have no idea when this was. I once was ill for 4 days with what I thought was flu and that is the only occasion I can remember. Therefore I have never been treated for malaria. Could you please tell me if there is any chance the disease will come back. ANSWER: That will … [Read more...]
Cases of Malaria
QUESTION: What are reasons for the increasing number of cases of malaria? ANSWER: As I recently wrote in answer to another Q&A post, it is difficult to determine whether cases of malaria are indeed increasing or not. For one, a large number of cases are not reported every year, making accurate estimates difficult. Secondly, the world's population is growing, and it is growing at the … [Read more...]
Helping Those Affected with Malaria in Africa
QUESTION: What are some things that might be done to make the situation better for those most affected with malaria in Africa? ANSWER: Currently, the emphasis on decreasing the burden of malaria on those most affected in Africa is based on a combination of prevention, education, research and treatment. In more detail: Prevention: This is arguably one of the keys to sustainably reducing … [Read more...]
Clinical malaria, taking chloroquine
QUESTION: Patient having malaria. Taking chloroquine. Then temp becomes normal but headache occurred. What to do? ANSWER: One of our collaborating medical doctors kindly assisted in answering this question. She suggests more clinical information is required; what type of malaria is the chloroquine being used for, for example? Also, the headache should not be from the drug, suggesting … [Read more...]
Diagnosis of malaria or another condition?
QUESTION: Patient is responding to malaria intravenous medicines but the blood test are not showing any strains of malaria parasites. Is it possible it is malaria or some other disease? ANSWER: I'm afraid it is hard to answer this without more information regarding what steps have been taken to diagnose infection, what medication is being given, and what other clinical information is … [Read more...]
What is “Pf” and “Pv” in relation to malaria?
QUESTION: What is pf and pv? ANSWER: "Pf" stands for Plasmodium falciparum and "Pv" stands for Plasmodium vivax. These are two different species of the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Pf causes the most acute, severe form of the disease, which can have a cerebral manifestation ("cerebral malaria") and causes the most deaths worldwide. Pv is still a serious disease, but usually … [Read more...]