Malaria an infection of the blood causes chills and high fever

Malaria is an infection of the blood that causes chills and high fever . Malaria is spread by mosquitos. the mosquito sucks up the malaria parasites in the blood of an infected person and injects them into the next person it bites. people with HIV are twice as likely to catch malaria.

Signs of malaria are:
.Typically malaria attacks by 3 stages:
1. It begins with chills and often headache. The person shivers or shake for 15 minutes to an hour.
2. Chills are followed by fever, often 40 or more. The person is weak, flushed(red skin), and at times delirious (not in his right mind). The fever lasts several hours a day.
3. Finally the person begins to sweat, and his temperature goes down. After an attack, the person feels weak, but may feel more or less OK.

.Usually malaria causes fevers every 2 or 3 days (depending on the kind of malaria), but in the beginning it may cause fever daily. Also, the fever pattern may not be regular or typical. For this reason anyone who suffers from unexplained fevers should have his blood tested for malaria.
.Chronic malaria often causes a large spleen and anemia. for people with HIV it can cause them to get sick faster
. In young children, anemia and paleness can begin within a day or two. In children with malaria affecting the brain ( cerebral malaria), seizures(fits) may be followed by periods of unconsciousness. Also, the palms may show a blue gray color, and breathing may be rapid and deep. (Note: children who have not been breastfed are more likely to get malaria)

Analysis and treatment:
.If you suspect Malaria or have repeated fevers, if possible go to a health center for a blood test.
in areas where an especially dangerous type of malaria called falciparum occurs, seek treatment immediately.
.In areas where malaria is common and blood tests are not available, treat any unexplained high fever as malaria. Take the malaria medicine known to work best in your area.
.If you get better with the medicine, but after several days the fevers start again , you may need another medicine. Get advice from the nearest health center
.If person who possibly has Malaria begins to have seizures or the the other signs of meningitis he may have cerebral malaria. If possible, inject quinine or artesunate at once.

HOW TO AVOID MALARIA
Malaria occurs more often during hot, rainy seasons. If everyone cooperates, it can be controlled. All these control measures should be practiced at once:

1-Avoid mosquitos .
Sleep where there are no mosquitos underneath a bed net treated with insecticide or under a sheet. Cover the baby’s cradle with treated mosquito netting or a thin cloth

2- Cooperate with the malaria control workers when they come to your village. Tell them if anyone in the family has had fevers and let them take blood for testing
3- If you suspect malaria, get treatment quickly. After you have been treated, mosquitos that bite you will not pass malaria on to others.
4-Destroy mosquitos and their young. Mosquitos breed in water that is not flowing. Clear ponds, pits, old cans, or broken pots that collect water. Raise mosquito-eating fish in ponds or lakes. Fill the tops of bamboo posts with sand and keep water containers covered.
5- Malaria can also be prevented, or its effects greatly reduced, by taking anti-malaria medicines on a regular schedule.

Source : WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR

a village health care handbook ( David Werner with Carol Thuman and Jane Mawell)

New revised Edition