Malaria

Question: What happened to malaria in the American colonies? I tell my students that early colonists in the Chesapeake suffered from malaria. One asked me why we don't have malaria anymore. Ideas?

Answer: Quinine, from the bark of South American Cinchona trees, protected millions of people from malaria in colonial times, enabling exploration and colonization in areas otherwise habitable but for this deadly disease. When administered promptly, quinine has the ability to halt malaria symptoms in just a few days (Garrett, 1994). Qunine has significantly affected the earth's population, for better or worse, by greatly reducing malaria's ability to control populations, especially in cities where large numbers of people were in constant close contact with each other. Before quinine was introduced to India in the 1850s, malaria was killing 1.3% of the population annually. Quinine has allowed India's population to grow to 700 million, whereas without it, India's population would be about 7 times less (Hobhouse, 1986). Populations of natives from western Africa had a high frequency of sickle cell anemia, which has deleterious symptoms, but had the great benefit of rendering afflicted persons largely immune to malaria. For many centuries, blacks from western Africa were preffered slaves because they could work in areas where other people would contract malaria, an

Question: How has Malaria effected the net growth in Africa over the last 50 years? How has Malaria effected the net growth in Africa over the last 50 years?

Answer: Probably not too much because malaria is easily treated. Many people in africa take anti-malarials when they develop fever.

Question: Is it possible to have Malaria for 3 months and a low grade fever? I have been running a fever for about 3 months. and I have nearly all the symptoms of malaria but my fever is never super high its anywhere from 99 to 100.8 might have been 100.9 before. there are times I feel almost normal then always get worse again, is it possible to have malaria this time and it be mild?

Answer: If you have been exposed to mosquitoes, it is possible. You need to go for a blood test to find out if you have the malaria virus.

Question: Malaria, How long after a mosquito has bitten someone with malaria does it take to spread the parasite? E.G. If a mozzie bite you and you had malaria then how long would the parasite have to incubate in the mozzie before it bite me and I got malaria. Thanks Chris

Answer: First the right type of mosquito must bite you.It is the anopheles mosquito not just any muzzle.After that it bites some one else and will transmit the germs it got from you into some one else body.The germs will spread fast and within 48 hours the person so bitten will become ill.

Question: Which type of anti-Malaria tablets work best with the least number of side affects yada yada? I am going to Indonesia this year on a trip with university and will be needing anti-Malaria tablets and was wondering which ones were best? I have talked to some people that say the most expensive are my best bet. Some of my friends have had anti-Malaria tablets before and suffered sickness and an aversion to sunlight, I'm not sure which ones they took though. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Answer: Artemisinin, a compound extracted from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), has been used for more than 1500 years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat fevers. Over the past few decades, combinations of artemisinin derivatives such as artesunate and artemether have proved highly effective against malaria. Try this natural remedy if you have any problems with pharma drugs. The World Health Organization allows this to be used and distributed.

Question: Can you recommend any great malaria-free game reserves which are relatively cheap to stay in? I am looking for an inexpensive game reserve somewhere close to Johannesburg or Durban. Unfortunately I can not go to areas where there is a risk of malaria (because I am pregnant), and are therefore looking for any recommendations for great game reserves outside of the malaria risk areas. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer: Visit the De Wilt game reserve near Brits. They are leaders in breeding the endangered Cheetah and also the African wild dog. Accommodation in Brits Also have a look at Madikwe game reserve in the Northwest province. There is also the game reserve at Pilansberg. Unfortunately all the one's close to Durban have a risk of malaria.

Question: How long does the treatment take to cure Malaria? I'm in 7th grade writing a story about refugees, and malaria happens to be the disease a character has. I need to know this. Thank you. Thank you, Debonair. I searched and it says "Malaria can be cured if treated while in its early stages..." (http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/m/malaria.htm) But yes, there isn't a vaccine yet.

Answer: Depends which species of the malarial parasite this character is infected with, and that will depend somewhat on from where exactly they are a refuge. Plasmodium vivax is the most common in Asia and the US, whereas P. falciparum is the most common in Africa. For P. vivax the treatment is for about 14 days but there is a problem of drug resistance and relapse with this beast; it can recur throughout life. However it is not usually life threatening. For P. falciparum the treatment is a bit easier and lasts about 3 days, the disease usually does not recur. However this form can be deadly if not treated quickly. Hope that helps.

Question: What is the best medicine to take to prevent malaria? I am traveling abroad. My doctor prescribed Malarone, but I have heard that it upsets people's stomachs. I know there are other types of malaria prevention medicine. The most helpful answers would be people who have taken the drug/drugs. Thank you so much!

Answer: First I would make sure that you actually need antimalarial medication. I traveled to Guatemala and I met several Americans who were on prophylaxis but since I had done my research and checked with the U.S. State Department recommendations, I knew that I would not need it. There are many different kinds of medications, especially since now there are resistant strains in certain areas. I would call your local health department and ask to speak to a nurse. He/she will be very knowledgable about all of the options and the side effects. Also, even if you know people affected my Malarone, it does not mean that you will be affected. Hope this is helpful.

Question: What kind of climate do the parasites that cause malaria live in? What kind of climate do the parasites that cause malaria live in? If I cam correct, it is a tropical or sub-tropic environment right?

Answer: yep your right. thats why there is rarely any cases in the U.S. of people infected with malaria. It is way more common in places such as the amazon.

Question: Is there a brand of Malaria tablets that's less likely to cause sickness? I've never had to take Malaria tablets before but will have to soon. I've heard reports of certain brands causing sickness and a feeling of unwell. Has anyone any experience of this or can recommend a brand that has little/no side effects? Thank you.

Answer: Malarone has very few side effects and is effective against all types of malaria including the deadly one.

Question: malaria??? can anyone ease tell me what tipe of stuff is in malaria prevention stuff... please help me im in gr 9 and this project is due tommorow!!! plz plz plz

Answer: These websites talk a lot about malaria and the second website is the best the others are great too. I hope this will help.

Question: How long does it take for Malaria blood tests to come back with accurate results? My girlfriend has recently been taken into hospital and no-one knows what's wrong with her. The hospital took bloods to test for Malaria and came back within 24hrs saying that she was clear, however I have heard from other sources (without any evidence yet) that it can take up to 2 months for the blood cultures to grow. Can someone please answer with a link to a trusted source stating how long it should normally take? Many thanks, Pan

Answer: Malaria is a parasite. Plasmodium is the genus and there are at least 4 species; malariae, falciparum, ovale and vivax. These cannot be grown in culture. The easiest way to diagnose them is to prepare what's known as a thick and thin blood smear. Its just what it sounds like. One 1 slide you make a thin blood smear and on another slide you drop blood so that it puddles up. Let them air dry and then stain them both. The parasites are visible in the blood smears. If the sample is taken during a fever episode, the chances of finding the parasite are very good. It only takes about 1 hour to prepare the slides, stain them, dry and examine them, if the tech is experienced. There are antigen detection methods; ParaSite-F is one I've heard of, but never used. Its supposed to be quite sensitive. Below is a link to everything you always wanted to know about malaria, but were afraidto ask.

Question: Is it highly recommend to take malaria pills when going to Tunisie? Also, is it possible to take a malaria vaccination or is there only a pill?

Answer: It is not recommended to take anti-malia prophylaxis when travelling to Tunisia because the risk is extremely low. It is stronly advised that you wear insect repellent all the time to protect you from mosquito bites (from other things they also carry). There is no malaria vaccination or prophylaxis via injection. No drug regimes for malaria are 100% safe. Malaria is constantly becoming resistent to whatever drugs they develop.

Question: What methods are being used to stop malaria? Hi, Im doing a humanities project and I would just like to know a little bit about methods of stopping malaria, both being used and those that haven't been employed yet. I have particular interest in Africa and South America, but information on any areas would be very helpful. Thank you!

Answer: In mosquito and malaria endemic areas the preventive methods should really be directed against the mosquitoes. Getting rid of breeding grounds. These are stagnant water pools which may be on the ground or in trees, all these should be filled in. Disused pots, tins cans etc should be disposed off. The mosquito is very opportunist and is capable of using tiny amount of water lying around for a few days to a few weeks, so the measures should be comprehensive and complete. Other measures against mosquito should involve sleeping inside insecticide impregnated nets (some are being provided by Belinda and Bill Gates Foundation and other donor organizations in some African countries). Of course sick people should be treated as well. In sub Sahara Africa this is being done by readily available and cheap Chloroquine. But in the past few years resistance to this form of treatment has appeared in East Africa and is spreading west! Anti malarial tablets for use by travelers to malaria endemic area is another method of preventing the disease. By and large malaria vaccine is the one which will make a real difference. Work is in progress in Africa involving testing (and so far) small trials, but large scale clinical trials are planned over the next year or two. May be there will be a breakthrough then. Pellegrini Kitara-Okot http: www.malariapreventiontips.com

Question: What were the measures taken to eradicate malaria in kerala in the 1965? Malaria was eradicated in the south Indian state of Kerala in the 1965. The desease was not reported till the year 1968. I want to know what were the measures taken to eradicate the disease of malaria.Even now the rate of malaria reported in kerala is very less. I want to know the what measures they are still continuing to controll the disease

Answer: Use DDT spray Removing all containers of water

Question: What spreads malaria and which is the bacteria? It is a female anopheles mosquito which spreads the malaria parasite called plasmodium from one person to the other using its sharp thing on the head to sting you and infect you with the disease which can kill you if it is not taken seriously.So you must visit a doctor immediately

Answer: Why ask and answer your own question?