QUESTION: How many days will the fever last? ANSWER: There is no set amount of time for the duration of a malaria fever, and in fact it will depends on several factors, namely the type of malaria the patient has, their level of acquired immunity, whether they were taking preventative medicine for malaria (prophylaxis) at the time of infection and how quickly they receive appropriate … [Read more...]
Illness from Uganda trip
QUESTION: I just came back from a visit to Uganda Africa. I was unable to take Malarone as I had bad side effects. Vomiting. I was only exposed once when we walked into a swampy rain forest. This of-course was the only day I did not have repellent. We were taking the kids on a nature walk and the German volunteer got a little lost. I ran as fast as could out of the area. Started to feel tired … [Read more...]
Malaria and Loss of Red Blood Cells
QUESTION: What is the percentage of red blood cell that is lost at the onset of malaria symptoms? ANSWER: This depends entirely on the severity of the malaria infection, and also the type of malaria. Malaria parasites, called Plasmodium, invade red blood cells and use them for rapid, asexual reproduction. After a certain number of multiplications, the parasites burst out from the red … [Read more...]
Malaria Cases in West Bengal
QUESTION: What is the number of Malaria patients in West Bengal? ANSWER: West Bengal is one of the states considered highly endemic for malaria in India. In 1998, cases in West Bengal comprised approximately 6% of the total number of cases of all malaria in India (corresponding to 129,000 of the total 2.15 million cases reported that year), and approximately 3% of the cases of Plasmodium … [Read more...]
REVIEW: The Use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy to Protect Against Malaria Infection
Review of Le Port A, et al. (2011), ‘Prevention of Malaria during Pregnancy: Assessing the Effect of the Distribution of IPTp Through the National Policy in Benin’, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 84 (Issue 2): pp 270-275 … [Read more...]
Is there malaria in North America?
QUESTION: Are there malaria-infected mosquitoes in North America? ANSWER: North America is usually defined as including Canada, the United States and Mexico. Of these, Mexico has known regions of regular malaria transmission; specifically the regions bordering Guatemala and Belize in the south (Chiapas, Quintana Roo and Tabasco), rural areas in the tropical lowlands slightly further north … [Read more...]
Causes of malaria, treatment with drugs and emerging resistance
QUESTION: What is malaria and what causes it besides bacteria? What is the name of the causal agent for malaria, which drug is used to cure it and how do the pathogens become resistant to the drugs? ANSWER: There are many questions in there! Malaria is actually caused by a single-celled animal, called a protozoan; it's not a bacterial disease. There are different species of these … [Read more...]
Do I have malaria?
QUESTION: Hi, I went to Ivory Coast August/2003 back March/2004, took some pills to help prevent Malaria on my trip but ran out and did not get more. While I was there I got many mosquito bites. Around October/03 became very sick, got tested for malaria at the hospital in Quebec but negative. Now May/2011 still have all the same symptoms, flu like symptoms, feeling cold most of the time, … [Read more...]
Causes of malaria
QUESTION: What are the causes of malaria? ANSWER: Malaria is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. These are single-celled animals known as protozoans (from the Greek 'protos' and 'zoia' which together mean 'first animal') and they are transmitted via mosquitoes that feed on blood; the parasites need both mosquito and human hosts to complete their life cycle (see below a graphic of … [Read more...]
Malaria in Malaysia
QUESTION: Is there malaria in Malaysia? ANSWER: Yes, there is malaria in Malaysia, although efficient vector control campaigns, alongside a well-functioning health system which effectively diagnoses and treats malaria cases has vastly reduced the transmission of the disease in peninsular Malaysia at least. Transmission is still a problem in rural, interior areas, and especially in Sabah … [Read more...]