Medical

How To Protect Your Family From Malaria This Summer

Malaria is a major illness that can trouble you and your family. Find out how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from malaria.

By URLife Team

27 Apr 2023

Imagine this: your children are playing at the park, but when they get back home, you notice them scratching their hands and legs. You see red, mildly swollen patches all over and it's not difficult to guess—mosquitoes are the cause. Next thing you know, kids are complaining of chills, fever and flu-like symptoms.

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Mosquitoes are the ultimate transmitters, they spread diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and the worst of the lot, Malaria. According to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, malaria in humans is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, or P. malariae. In fact, a special type of infected mosquito, the female Anopheles, is responsible for spreading malaria. In 2022, 50 deaths were recorded in India alone, although the statistics are much lower as compared to 2014 when the total death toll was 562, says a 2022 statistical report by Health, Pharma, & Medtech.

Related story: Dengue Fever: All You Need To Know

World Malaria Day is an annual event that raises awareness about the global effort to control and ultimately eradicate malaria. In 2020 an estimated 241 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide and 627,000 people died, mostly children in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease, yet it continues to be a major public health threat. World Malaria Day provides a platform for stakeholders from around the world to come together to renew their commitment to malaria control and to work towards a malaria-free world.

Those who travel a lot are the most vulnerable to malaria, be it for business or pleasure (vacation). Travellers to areas with high malaria transmission are at risk of contracting the disease if they are bitten by infected mosquitoes. This is particularly true for people who tend to travel a lot as they may visit areas with high malaria transmission, especially in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and South Asia.

Besides, people who travel along with children to these areas without taking proper precautions, such as taking antimalarial medication and using insect repellent and mosquito nets, are at high risk of contracting the disease.

Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria usually has symptoms closely resembling respiratory infections. However, one has to observe well and approach the doctor in any case. Some symptoms are:

Fever
Headache
Chills, which can be mistaken for other illnesses
Organ failure, coma, and death (in severe cases)

Diagnosis of Malaria

Your doctor will assess all the symptoms that are present. They will recommend diagnostic tests for malaria. Some tests are to be conducted to rule out other possible causes of the patient's symptoms.

Blood tests such as smear microscopy, Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDTs) and serology to detect the parasite and specific malaria antigens in the blood.
PCR test
Drug-resistance testing

Treatment of Malaria

Rapid and accurate treatment of malaria is vital to manage the condition of the patient to prevent malaria from spreading. Treatment of malaria depends on many factors including disease severity, and the species of malaria parasite that instigated the infection. Your healthcare provider may give a combination of antimalarial drugs to treat the illness. Additional factors such as age, weight, and pregnancy status may limit the available options for malaria treatment.

6 Ways To Protect Your Family From Malaria

Although there are vaccines and medication to protect against vector-borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, the best protection against these diseases is to protect yourself against their bites. By following these measures, you can protect your family from malaria and reduce the risk of transmission.

1. Use mosquito nets: Mosquito nets can provide a physical barrier between you and the mosquitoes that transmit malaria. Make sure to use nets that are properly treated with insecticide.

2. Wear protective clothing: Cover your skin with long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks to prevent mosquito bites. Choose clothing made from lightweight materials to keep cool in hot climates.

3. Use insect repellent: Apply insect repellent on exposed skin to keep mosquitoes at bay. Make sure to use a repellent that is effective against malaria-transmitting mosquitoes and follow the instructions on the label.

4. Keep windows and doors closed: Keep windows and doors closed, or use screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

5. Get rid of standing water: Standing water provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Make sure to eliminate standing water sources around your home, such as empty flower pots, buckets, and other containers.

6. Take antimalarial medication: If you are travelling to an area with high malaria transmission, take antimalarial medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

The RTS, S/AS01 vaccine is effective against Plasmodium falciparum malaria, which induces severe infection in children. However, other programs are in progress to devise a malaria vaccine.

Malaria Prevention While Travelling

If you plan on travelling to an area where malaria is common, talk to your medical provider about taking prescriptions to prevent malaria. You will have to take the medication before, during, and after your stay.

Take antimalarial medication: If you are travelling to a malaria-endemic area, it is important to take antimalarial medication as prescribed by your doctor. The type of medication may vary depending on the location and your health condition.
Stay in air-conditioned or screened accommodations: Choose accommodations that have screened windows and doors or air conditioning.
Avoid outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours: Mosquitoes that carry malaria are most active during dawn and dusk, so try to stay indoors during those times if possible.
Avoid going near standing water: Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so try to remove any standing water around your accommodation or in nearby areas.

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