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- What is malaria?
- Symptoms of malaria
- Causes of malaria
- Prevention of malaria
- Risk factors for malaria
- Complications of malaria
- When to see a doctor about malaria
- Diagnosis of malaria
- Conventional treatment of malaria
- Alternative/complementary treatment of malaria
- Living with malaria
- Caring for someone with malaria
Conventional treatment of malaria
Treatment of malaria is through medication if an infection is present, but prevention is recommended to avoid mosquito's and avoid malaria in the first place.
Medication
Malaria is normally treated based on a variety of factors, namely the species of the parasite, the health of the person infected and where the disease was contracted, as well as whether the strain is a resistant or non-resistant one.
- Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) - this is the latest medication combination used to treat malaria as there has been an increase in Plasmodium falciparum parasite resistance against the older anti-malaria medications. The ACT consists of:
- Artemether-lumefantrine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine - these two drugs are very effective in combination for treating uncomplicated malaria
- Anti-malarial medications - these are the traditional medications used to treat malaria, but there has been an increase in Plasmodium falciparum parasite anti-malarial drug resistance (which is why ACT therapy is being more recommended today):
- Amodiaquine - this quinine-type medication is usually used either alone or in combination with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in pregnant women with a malaria infection with less side effects than other anti-malaria medications
- Chloroquine - this medications is used for non-resistant strains of malaria infections
- Clindamycine - for non-resistant strains of malaria
- Doxycycline - this is an antibiotic used to kill the parasite and prevent secondary infection
- Mefloquine - this medication is similar to quinine
- Primaquine - this is a quinine-type anti-malarial medication used to treat malaria
- Quinine gluconate & sulphate - this is an anti-malarial drug used for a resistant malaria infection
- Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine - this medication is used in combination with the anti-malarial amodiaquine especially in pregnant women as it has less side effects than other medications
- Tetracycline - this is an antibiotic used to kill the parasite and prevent secondary infection
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Precautions to avoid malaria infection in the first place
There are certain general precautions which need to be taken in order to prevent malaria from occurring:
- Avoid malaria-prone countries - it is advisable to avoid visiting countries with known malaria outbreaks in the season when infection mainly occurs
- Avoid mosquito's - avoid exposure to mosquito's to prevent being bitten is the simplest strategy
- Fly screens - put fly screens over windows and doors so that when the doors and windows are opened at night, mosquito's cannot enter the house
- Insect repellant - wear some form of insect repellant (preferably a natural one without strong chemicals) on skin that is not covered, when outside at night. Take special care of protecting children's delicate skin
- Long sleeves outdoors - wear long sleeves when in areas known to be mosquito habitats, to prevent exposing bare skin for mosquito's to bite
- Mosquito net - Use a mosquito net over your bed and especially over a child's bed as they can be more susceptible to the worst effects of malaria
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< 8: diagnosis 10: alternative treatment > Last reviewed: 15 January 2009 || Last updated: 6 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
