QUESTION Is random rash-like swelling on parts of your body coupled with back pains and joint aches and cold sweats all malaria symptom? If so, what is the parasite type and the cure? ANSWER Rashes are not usually associated with malaria infection; the symptoms you describe are however consistent with several other infections, some of which can be quite serious, such as dengue fever. You … [Read more...]
Do I need malaria tablets to live in Nigeria?
QUESTION Do I need malaria tablets to live in Nigeria? I was born and bred in the UK and want to go back to live in Nigeria for about 2 years, do I need malaria tablets? ANSWER It is not usually recommended to take malaria tablets for long periods of time (i.e. more than a few months). People living for extended periods in areas with malaria should focus on other methods of prevention, … [Read more...]
Relapsing Malaria
QUESTION I'm constantly on malaria drugs, fall ill every 2 weeks and always diagnosed with malaria.I'm getting really fed up and need a permanent solution to all of this. I want to live a healthy life and I'm tired of being on malaria drugs. How do I overcome malaria permanently? ANSWER It is very unusual to be reinfected so constantly with malaria. First of all, how are you getting … [Read more...]
Treatment and Management of Malaria Parasite
QUESTION What are the treatments and management of malaria? ANSWER Treatment is actually part of the strategy for managing malaria, so I will come back to that later. The other main ways in which malaria is controlled is through prevention, diagnosis (followed by treatment if necessary) and education. 1) Prevention: There are a number of ways to prevent malaria. These can be placed … [Read more...]
New Optical Technique for Rapid Malaria Diagnosis
Correctly and quickly diagnosing malaria is essential for effective and life-saving treatment. But rapid detection, particularly in remote areas, is not always possible because current methods are time-consuming and require precise instrumentation and highly skilled microscopic analysis. Now, a promising new optical imaging system, described in a paper published today in the Optical Society's … [Read more...]
Recurring Malaria
QUESTION I had malaria twice when I was 4 and 8 years old. I am 50 years old now but I have severe chills at least once or twice a month, muscle aches, fatigue severe head aches for the past 10-15 years with no apparent cause and my I take head ache medication for migraine (maxalt and excedrim) and my chills and fatigue is getting more frequent. I had no other history of any diseases. Is this … [Read more...]
Post-infection Malaria Medication
QUESTION My daughter has recently returned from a trip to Borneo. Even with aggressive preventive anti-mosquito behaviour (long sleeves/pants, deet applications and mosquito netting) but not anti-malarial medication, she received over 30 bites. She is now exhibiting some symptoms (body aches, headache and severe fatigue). She has an appointment at the doctors in 2 days time. Is there some kind … [Read more...]
Malaria Test for Infant
QUESTION What can I do if my infant (6-12 months) gets malaria and how can I tell if they have it? ANSWER Your infant can easily be diagnosed by a blood test, so visit a clinic, doctor or hospital immediately. The diagnosis will either be done by looking at a thick and thin blood film under a microscope, or by a rapid diagnostic test. It is important that a blood test is done in … [Read more...]
Will Malaria Test Work with No Symptoms Present?
QUESTION I believe my fiance who lives in Kenya has malaria but refuses to go for a test. She has headaches and now flu like symptoms. I am returning in late December, if the symptoms have gone can I still take her for a blood test to see if malaria is still present even if the symptoms subside? ANSWER Most malaria diagnosis in Kenya is done by looking at a small sample of the patient's … [Read more...]
My Malaria Refuses to Go Away
QUESTION The symptoms started about 2 months ago and I have used all kind of drugs. I have completed lumartem dose twice and I have used Coartem, I even took chloroquine injection and I am well for a few days and it comes back to the way it use to be, because of so many antibiotics I have taken I now have swellings in my body and in my leg and its making my leg ache and making walking … [Read more...]