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...]
How many types of malaria are there?
QUESTION How many types of malaria are there? ANSWER There are four species of malaria parasite that commonly infect humans. These are: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. In addition, a fifth species, P. knowlesi, is starting to draw public health attention as an infection in humans in south-east Asia, and particularly Borneo - previously, it was thought to only … [Read more...]
Child Has Recurring Malaria
QUESTION My two year old daughter was affected by malaria 9 months back we took proper course and also the follow up course of 6 weeks. After 2 months post 6 weeks she was infected again by malaria and now again she is getting fever and fear this could be malaria again. ANSWER If you suspect she might have malaria again it is important you go and get her tested immediately, as then the … [Read more...]
Why is Malaria Dangerous?
QUESTION How does Malaria become so dangerous? ANSWER Malaria in humans can be caused by a number of different parasites - the most dangerous, and the one which is responsible for over 90% of the worldwide deaths from malaria, is Plasmodium falciparum. The reason that P. falciparum is so dangerous is because it affects the behaviour of red blood cells. Red blood cells that are infected … [Read more...]
Malaria Recurrence
QUESTION My friend suffers malaria due to plasmodium falsciparum at least every two weeks. It has been treated with coartem, artequine, artesunate+fansida, quinine/quinimax since 2004 without any relief at all. It returns a week or two later and lab tests attest to same. What else should be done? ANSWER It is rare for someone living in an endemic area to suffer so regularly from … [Read more...]
Is it Common to Die of Malaria?
QUESTION is it common to die of malaria? Why? Why not? ANSWER Thankfully, these days it is not very common to die from malaria. Out of an estimated 250 million cases of malaria around the world every year, there are only about 700,000 fatalities. However, 700,000 deaths every year is still a lot! If left undiagnosed and untreated, malaria can progress very rapidly and be a very … [Read more...]
Long term health effects of malaria when young?
QUESTION I'm trying to find out if having malaria at a young age can have long term effects on health. Around 25 years ago when I was 4 years old I contracted malaria when living in central Africa. Unfortunately I do not know the type of malaria, only that I received medication and recovered without complications. Over the last few years I've had a general feeling of poor health and … [Read more...]
What is Malaria?
QUESTION what is malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been … [Read more...]
Malaria and the Brain
QUESTION How long does it take malaria to reach your brain? ANSWER The process by which malaria affects the brain is complicated, and the amount of time also varies. First of all, only one species of malaria parasite is associated with the brain - this is Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria. It is dangerous because when it infects red blood cells, it makes them … [Read more...]
Malaria Symptoms
QUESTION WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? ANSWER Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Symptoms usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito … [Read more...]