Malaria is a serious mosquito born disease found in many tropical and sub-tropical low lying and swampy areas of Africa, mostly Central Africa, East and North Africa, but also the Northern and Eastern areas of Southern Africa, along a 100 km strip along the borders with Zimbabwe and Mozambique or Maputo.
Many safe prophylactic malaria medicines are available. Drug-resistant strains of Malaria occurs in certain of the East African countries, resistant strains of Malaria necessitate the taking of a combination of pills to be effective. To be effective, Malaria pills must be taken before-hand at the prescribed dosage. Pills taken after infection, is only partially effective at best.
The first signs of this disease are headaches and recurring fevers that star about 2 weeks after infection. The drug resistant forms of the disease can be deadly when not recognised and treated in time. Always inform your GP of the fact that you had visited a foreign country, if you develop any disease or symptoms when you return. Much of the practice of medicine is still based on intelligent guessing, but then your doctor or GP must have all the facts.
Judicious use of insect repellent sprays or sticks, which may not always be obtainable in remote places or countries, sleeping under a proper mosquito net and avoidance of areas near open stretches of water at dusk, dawn and night when mosquitoes are at their most active, can go a long way towards warding off this dreadful disease which can cause a period of debilitating illness.
In order to be infected by Malaria, you need three things:
* A female Anopheles mosquito,
* Who had dined on an already infected carrier?
* exposed skin on your body
There is little you can do about the first two items other than avoiding the area where these mosquitos’ occur, but repellent spray and use of proper netting will give you the upper hand.
Many safe prophylactic malaria medicines are available. Drug-resistant strains of Malaria occurs in certain of the East African countries, resistant strains of Malaria necessitate the taking of a combination of pills to be effective. To be effective, Malaria pills must be taken before-hand at the prescribed dosage. Pills taken after infection, is only partially effective at best.
The first signs of this disease are headaches and recurring fevers that star about 2 weeks after infection. The drug resistant forms of the disease can be deadly when not recognised and treated in time. Always inform your GP of the fact that you had visited a foreign country, if you develop any disease or symptoms when you return. Much of the practice of medicine is still based on intelligent guessing, but then your doctor or GP must have all the facts.
Judicious use of insect repellent sprays or sticks, which may not always be obtainable in remote places or countries, sleeping under a proper mosquito net and avoidance of areas near open stretches of water at dusk, dawn and night when mosquitoes are at their most active, can go a long way towards warding off this dreadful disease which can cause a period of debilitating illness.
In order to be infected by Malaria, you need three things:
* A female Anopheles mosquito,
* Who had dined on an already infected carrier?
* exposed skin on your body
There is little you can do about the first two items other than avoiding the area where these mosquitos’ occur, but repellent spray and use of proper netting will give you the upper hand.
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