QUESTION If one takes the first dose of Coartem and tests indicate presence of malaria parasites,is it advisable to take a second round of coartem, or to start on quinine? Is quinine usually administered on its own or in conjunction with another drug? At what point is malaria considered complicated? ANSWER Usually, if a first round of treatment is unsuccessful, a doctor will prescribe a … [Read more...]
Massage Therapy and Malaria
QUESTION What massage therapy has helped with malaria and what effects did it have on the patient? ANSWER As far as I am aware, massage therapy has never been shown to have any positive effects on malaria infection. If a patient has malaria, they must receive medical treatment, either in the form of oral tablets or if the disease has already progressed to a severe state, intravenous … [Read more...]
Treatment of Malaria
QUESTION How is malaria treated? ANSWER 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 … [Read more...]
Curing Malaria
QUESTION What is needed to cure malaria? ANSWER Malaria is usually cured through treatment with an anti-malarial drug. The World Health Organization recommends use of an ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy, such as Coartem) as first-line treatment for all non-complicated (i.e. not severe) malaria, and especially P. falciparum malaria (which in most places is resistance to … [Read more...]
Injections for Malaria Treatment?
QUESTION I have a friend that just told me that she has Malaria. She said she has to go to the hospital every day for an injection for around the next 2 weeks. Is this a typical treatment. Why not just take pills? I`m just trying to wrap my head around this and understand the different treatments. ANSWER This is certainly not typical treatment for malaria. Uncomplicated malaria is usually … [Read more...]