QUESTION Why is there no mention here of all the work being done on biolarvicides - the low cost solution for malaria control? ANSWER Actually, we had a question a while ago about the ECOWAS program in West Africa, which centers around the use of biolarvicides. A link to that question, and the answer, is provided here: http://malaria.com/questions/ecowas-malaria. The most common form … [Read more...]
What measures can local people take to limit malaria infection?
QUESTION What measures can local people take to limit malaria infection? ANSWER People living in malarial areas can do a lot to protect themselves from getting malaria. There are community programs for vector control (to control or eliminate mosquitoes) that include draining swamps to remove mosquito breeding habitat, spraying with insecticide, and using biological control … [Read more...]
Mosquito Larvae Eradication
QUESTION What measures can be taken to eradicate mosquito larvae? ANSWER The main methods to control mosquito larval populations are by reducing areas available for adults to breed and also directly killing larvae. So, for example, adult mosquitoes need standing, stagnant water in order to lay their eggs. Getting rid of these sources of standing water, for example by filling in unwanted … [Read more...]
P. knowlesi versus P. falciparum: Treatment and Prevention
QUESTION I would like to know about the P. knowlesi - treatment compared to P. falciparum? preventive medicine? ANSWER At this point in time, P. knowlesi is completely susceptible to chloroquine, and so can be treated successfully using this drug. P. falciparum, on the other hand, is known to have widespread resistance to chloroquine, and so the World Health Organization recommends that … [Read more...]
Mosquito Larvae Eradication
QUESTION What measures can be taken to eradicate the mosquito larvae? ANSWER The usual, traditional method of eradicating mosquito larvae is through the application of insecticides. However many of these are known to have severe negative effects on water quality, particularly through being non-selectively toxic and therefore killing lots of other aquatic life as well as the mosquitoes. … [Read more...]
Community Based Management for Malaria
QUESTION what are the methods for community based management for malaria? ANSWER Community-based management of malaria revolves around three main principles: prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Prevention mainly revolves around stopping mosquitoes from biting people. Methods for this include distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bednets (and teaching people to use them … [Read more...]
Malaria Treatment and Prevention Methods
QUESTION I work in Central Africa republic.I was recently diagnosed with malaria (p.falciparum) after a blood test—my 4th attack in 15 months and given Co-Arinate. Two days after completing my dose I went for a 2nd blood test and the trophozoite count was 720/mm3. The doctor prescribed co-artem and said if I don't get better he shall transfuse quinine. Whats your comment on the … [Read more...]
Socio-Economic and Environmental Conditions Contributing to Malaria
QUESTION what socio-economic and environmental conditions contribute to the disease? ANSWER Malaria transmission requires the presence of Anopheles mosquitoes; as such, conditions which favor the growth and persistence of these mosquitoes will also be hotspots for malaria transmission, provided the climate is also sufficiently warm for the development of the parasite within the mosquito. … [Read more...]
Where Does Malaria Occur?
QUESTION Where does malaria occur? ANSWER Malaria has at some stage or another occurred on every continent of the world except Antarctica. Currently, cases of human malaria are mainly found in Central and South America, parts of the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, parts of the Middle East, south Asia, south-east Asia, and the Pacific Islands of Oceania. Control efforts, mainly consisting … [Read more...]
How to Prevent Malaria
QUESTION How to prevent malaria? ANSWER There are a number of ways to prevent malaria. These can be placed into two categories: medication and vector protection. For medication, there are drugs you can take to prevent the malaria parasite from developing after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito. These drugs are known as “chemoprophylaxis." There are several different kinds, … [Read more...]