QUESTION Malaria has been with me since the late 1980's after 6 years in Malawi. During the 90's I had it twice per year in Feb and Sept. Blood tests always came up negative. Treatment was with Chloroquine, later Halafantrin and then Co Artem. 2 or 3 treatments were required as symptoms appeared 2 weeks after completion of initial treatment. In 2004 I treated with a bodyweight specific dose … [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...]
Contrasting Patterns of Malaria Drug Resistance Found Between Humans and Mosquitoes
A recent study has detected contrasting patterns of drug resistance in malaria-causing parasites taken from both humans and mosquitoes in rural Zambia. Parasites found in human blood samples showed a high prevalence for pyrimethamine-resistance, which was consistent with the class of drugs widely used to treat malaria in the region. However, parasites taken from mosquitoes themselves had very … [Read more...]
Is Malaria Fatal?
QUESTION Can you die from malaria? ANSWER Yes. If left untreated, certain types of malaria in particular can cause severe complications, and can even lead to death. Plasmodium falciparum is the most dangerous form of malaria and is responsible for 90% of the approximately 700,000 annual deaths caused by malaria. However, P. vivax infections can also be very serious, and more recently, … [Read more...]
How is Malaria Treated
QUESTION How is malaria treated? ANSWER This answer is copied from an earlier question about the various available cures for malaria. Malaria can be cured with a number of different medications, depending on then type of malaria and how far the disease has been progressed. For standard, non-complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the World Health Organisation recommends use of … [Read more...]
Passing Malaria to Baby
QUESTION I contracted Malaria 3.5 years ago (either in Uganda or Rwanda). I believe it was the Plasmodium falciparum strain. Upon my diagnosis, I was treated and have been healthy since. In regards to pregnancy, is it safe for me to have a baby? What are the chances of passing the malaria virus to the baby? ANSWER First of all, malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite, not a … [Read more...]
Who introduced malaria in which century?
QUESTION Who introduced malaria in which century, how does it cause malaria and what is the virus' name? ANSWER Malaria wasn't introduced; it has been evolving alongside humans for thousands, if not millions of years. The first known mention of malaria by humans is in an ancient Chinese medical text, from 2700 BCE (before common era). Other ancient people, such as the Romans and the … [Read more...]
How does oxygenated blood reach the brain?
QUESTION How does the oxygenated blood actually reach the brain??? ANSWER Two main artery pairs supply the brain with oxygenated blood from the lungs. These are the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries. One of the major risks of infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria is that the parasite induces red blood cells to sequester to the sides of small blood vessels in … [Read more...]
Symptoms of Malaria
QUESTION What are the main symptoms of malaria? ANSWER Malaria can have many different symptoms, but the initial signs are similar to a flu-like illness, with high fever, chills, headache and muscle soreness or aches. A characteristic sign of malaria is cyclical fever, with peaks of severity every two or three days. Additionally, some people will experience nausea, coughing, vomiting … [Read more...]
Is it just a cold?
QUESTION I came back from a Kenya safari and Mombasa beach holiday 21 days ago. I took my malaria tablets as prescribed, and only got 5 bites on my last morning. Since yesterday, I have been feeling hot then cold, though not shivering or overly sweating. A headache which is constantly there. I have also today been sick after eating/drinking. Feeling really tired. Also sore throat and … [Read more...]