Does all malaria kill without treatment?

by

QUESTION:

Does all malaria kill without treatment?

ANSWER:

No. There are five main species of malaria which infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. Of these, P. falciparum is the most deadly, and can often cause death if left untreated.

The other four may also result in death, but more rarely, and usually only in high risk individuals, such as young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Given the seriousness of the symptoms and the possibility of death in all cases, it is very important to seek medical advice if you suspect you have malaria. Once given accurate diagnosis of which type of malaria you have, you can be given appropriate treatment.

Side Effects of Treatment

by

QUESTION

What are the probable side effects / reaction of “Artemether with Lumefantrine” to a 4.5 years, 5ml syrup, 2 doses – 0 & 8 hours?

ANSWER

Artermeter with Lumefantrine is often sold under the brand name “Coartem” and is widely distributed in areas of high P. falciparum prevalence, and particularly where known resistance to chloroquine occurs.

Coartem is also the drug of choice for the Roll Back Malaria programme. A study of 1332 children, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, revealed that few children experienced any side effects while taking Coartem, and of these, the vast majority of side effects were mild, did not prevent the child from continuing to take the medication, and were resolved.

The most common symptoms that were observed in children were pyrexia (fever), cough, vomiting, loss of appetite and headaches. Other, more clinically significant but also more rare, side effects which have been observed include tinnitus (ringing in the ears), blood disorders, problems sleeping, heart palpitations, mood swings, gastrointestinal upset, itchiness, back pain and vertigo.

Malaria Month

by

QUESTION

What is the national month for malaria?

ANSWER

I’m not exactly sure I understand your question. If you are asking if there is a specific month when malaria is the worst, that depends on where you are. Malaria transmission is highly seasonal, because the mosquitoes that transmit the disease require pools of standing water in order to reproduce. Therefore in many places, transmission is highest during the rainy or wet season.

However, if you mean if there is a specific month dedicated to raising awareness about malaria and control, then the answer is yes, at least for certain countries. India, for example, has declared each June between 2005 and 2012 to be “Anti-malaria Month,” when a big push is made nation-wide to educate people about preventing malaria, implement early diagnosis and treatment and organise vector control efforts. June was selected as it is the month before the start of the monsoon season, when malaria transmission increases due to the heavy rains.

Malaria and Blood Cells

by

QUESTION

What effect does malaria have on blood cells?

ANSWER

Malaria survives by invading red blood cells (erythrocytes), then replicating within them several times (the exact number and timing of replication depends on the species of malaria), then, once done with replication, bursts from inside the red blood cells, destroying it in the process. As such, malaria infection decreases the number of red blood cells in a patient’s blood, which can lead to anaemia. Moreover, the most severe species of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, forces red blood cells to stick to the insides of tiny blood vessels deep within major organs such as the kidneys and even brain. This process is called sequestration.

Infection with malaria is also often associated with a decrease in the overall number of white blood cells, but elevated numbers of monocytes can sometimes be observed.

Reports of community mobilisation on prevention and treatment of malaria

by

QUESTION:

Do you have any reports on community mobilisation on malaria prevention?

ANSWER:

There are a lot of organisations that utilise community involvement and mobilisation in their strategies to prevent and control malaria. One example of such an organisation is UNICEF; they work closely with governments to develop initiatives that allow for scaling up of community and health facility integrated packages for the control of malaria. Such packages might include distribution of bednets alongside messages about education to prevent malaria, plus diagnosis and treatment of infections. More information can be found on the UNICEF website.

Epidemiology of Malaria

by

QUESTION:

Epidemology of malaria

ANSWER:

I’m afraid that without a bit more detail in the question, it is difficult to answer – there are many facets to the epidemiology of malaria, from the distribution of the disease globally to its prevalence in different age and risk groups among human populations. Human migration and movement can also play a large role in the epidemiology of malaria, as can mosquito vector behaviour and population dynamics.

Malaria is also known to vary widely based on climatic conditions, and there are concerns that climate change will affect what we know about the epidemiology of malaria, making it harder to control. There are also cases of cross-over between human forms of malaria and those from other primates, such as with Plasmodium knowlesi in macaques in south-east Asia. If you re-submit a more specific question, I’ll be happy to answer it more fully!

Symptoms of Malaria

by

QUESTION

What are the symptoms of malaria?

ANSWER

The 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. Infection with one type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death. Since the early symptoms of malaria are very similar to many other conditions, including flu and the common cold, if you live in a malaria area it is important not to ignore these symptoms but to seek medical help and have a blood test to check for malaria early on. 

Fever

by

QUESTION

I am suffering from fever—what should I do?

ANSWER

I am afraid I cannot answer your question adequately—this site is not intended for diagnosis or as a substitute for medical care, just to answer specific questions about malaria.

Treatment for Malaria

by

QUESTION:

What is the main medicine to cure malaria and about safety precautions?

ANSWER:

There are a number of medicines used to treat malaria. Traditionally, chloroquine has been the first line drug of choice for uncomplicated, non-resistant malaria. However, several types of malaria, and most notably Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe and deadly kind, has become resistant to chloroquine in many places. In some parts of south-east Asia, Plasmodium vivax has also begun to show worrying signs of chloroquine resistance. In such settings, where resistance to chloroquine is suspected, the first line medications for uncomplicated cases are artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as Coartem.

The World Health Organization has recommended that artemisinin only be given in combination with another drug to prevent malaria also becoming resistant to this therapy as well. Cases of malaria which have progressed beyond the grasp of that treatable with oral medication as described above (so-called “complicated” cases, most common with P. falciparum infection) are usually given intravenous quinine as a first-line response.

All of these treatments have been rigorously tested in strictly controlled clinical and field trials, and while they may have side effects, they are generally mild and in most cases, the patient will be given the dose without prior testing for reaction to the drug. One exception is with primaquine, which is sometimes used as a preventative medication against malaria and can also be used to treat the liver stages of P. vivax and P. ovale. Primaquine is known to cause severe haemolysis in people with G6DP deficiency, and so people with a high statistical probability of having this condition (for example due to family history or ethnicity) should be tested prior to being given primaquine.

Drugs for Malaria

by

QUESTION

What drugs are used in the treatment of malaria?

ANSWER

There are a number of medicines used to treat malaria. Traditionally, chloroquine has been the first line drug of choice for uncomplicated, non-resistant malaria. However, several types of malaria, and most notably Plasmodium falciparum, the most severe and deadly kind, has become resistant to chloroquine in many places. In some parts of south-east Asia, Plasmodium vivax has also begun to show worrying signs of chloroquine resistance. In such settings, where resistance to chloroquine is suspected, the first line medications for uncomplicated cases are artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), such as Coartem.

The World Health Organization has recommended that artemisinin only be given in combination with another drug to prevent malaria also becoming resistant to this therapy as well. Cases of malaria which have progressed beyond the grasp of that treatable with oral medication as described above (so-called “complicated” cases, most common with P. falciparum infection) are usually given intravenous quinine as a first-line response.

All of these treatments have been rigorously tested in strictly controlled clinical and field trials, and while they may have side effects, they are generally mild and in most cases, the patient will be given the dose without prior testing for reaction to the drug. One exception is with primaquine, which is sometimes used as a preventative medication against malaria and can also be used to treat the liver stages of P. vivax and P. ovale. Primaquine is known to cause severe haemolysis in people with G6DP deficiency, and so people with a high statistical probability of having this condition (for example due to family history or ethnicity) should be tested prior to being given primaquine.