 Where
is it found?
Malaria
occurs across the globe in the
tropical and subtropical regions. Within
South Africa, malaria seems to
be confined to the northeastern Lowveld,
(Mpumalanga) and northern
Kwazulu Natal. Malaria can also be found
along the border areas of the Northern and North
West Provinces. Malaria is also a threat to visitors
traveling to neighboring Mozambique,
Zimbabwe & Zambia.
All of these countries are heavily infested with
Swaziland a partial risk. Namibia
is too dry except in the far north and into the
Caprivi Strip.
Botswana’s
malaria problem can also be found mainly in the
north and swamp areas.
Malaria
is highly seasonal and wet weather followed by
warm spells will significantly increase the chance
of malaria occurring.
How
do you get malaria?
 Malaria
is caught when an infected Anopheles female bites
you, she will inject plasmodia into your blood,
which will then embark on a series of changes
as part of a complex life-cycle.
The
viruses attack the red blood cells and invade
the liver, multiplying through heir cycle. This
initial process generally takes between 8 –
14 days. Left unchecked to keep multiplying, the
plasmodia kill you by infecting & destroying
the red blood cells, causing anemia – and
by clogging the capilliaries that carry blood
to the brain – causing cerebral malaria.
What
drugs to take
The
problem is that there are many different protective
(prophylactic) drugs with all sorts of trade names
and resistance to some of them is a very real
problem.
 Realistically,
you shouldn’t bother with chloroquine or
Paludrine by themselves anymore.
The
SAA Netcare Travel Clinic now advises the use
of the following prophylaxis: mefloquine, doxycycline
or atovaquone- proguanil. All of the above drugs
require a prescription.
The
most popular, Mefloquine – also known as
Lariam, is an effective drug, but has terrible
side affects.
Please
make sure when obtaining your chosen malaria prophylaxis,
that you are clear on when and how to take each
tablet, as each has a different dosage.
And
if I get malaria?
Don’t
panic!
There
are curative treatment drugs to help, even if
you are far advanced. If you’re out of range
of special medical treatment, quinine, readily
available in rural clinics, three times a day
will curtail malarial multiplications.
Be
prepared though, as it’s not the nicest
drug and your ears will ring like a bell!
Riamet
is now popular for treatment in areas reporting
malignant malaria. To complete the course, you
take six doses of four tablets given over a period
of 60 hours.
Malarial
Symptoms:
 The
common symptoms of malaria include generalized
body ache, tiredness,
headache, sore throat,
diarrhea and a fever!
Often,
these symptoms are not dramatic and it’s
important to have a malaria test (blood test)
- just to be 100% safe.
Informative
web sites:
www.malaria.org.za
www.malaria.org.za/Malria_Risk/Update/update.html
www.travelclinic.co.za |
