Regent Laboratories Malaria control products

Articles & information about malaria 

  

Malaria

Malaria is a serious disease caused by Anopheles mosquitoes. While the disease may be fatal, it is treatable with prompt treatment.

There are four types of malaria that a human can be infected with:

·  Plasmodium faciparum

·  Vivax

·  Ovale

·  Malariae

 

Affected Areas:
Malaria occurs in over 100 countries and more than 40% of the world’s population is at risk. Large areas of Angola, Botswana, Hong Kong, Mozambique, South  Africa, Zimbabwe , Zambia Central South America, Haiti, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania are considered to be malaria-risk areas.

·  The World Health Organization estimates that 300 – 500 million cases of malaria occur annually and more than 1 million people die of the disease.

·  There are approximately 1200 cases diagnosed in the United States each year.

·  Most of these cases are prevalent in immigrants and travelers who are returning from malaria-risk areas.

·  There is generally less risk of malaria at altitudes above 1500 meters (4500 feet).

Symptoms:
There are several tell-tale signs or symptoms which may indicate you have been infected with the disease. They include:

·  Fever of 38°C or over (often intermittent)

·  Chills (sweating and shivering)

·  Headache

·  Aching muscles and joints

·  Abdominal pains and diarrhea

·  Repeated vomiting

·  Anemia

·  Jaundice (because of loss of red blood cells)

·  Tiredness and fatigue

Improper treatment of any type of malaria may result in kidney failure, seizure, mental confusion, coma, and or death.

For most, the symptoms begin between 10 days to 4 weeks after initial infection. In some instances, however, people can feel ill as early as eight days, or as late as one year, following the initial contamination.

Malaria is identified by doing a thick blood smear. The blood sample should be taken when the patient has a fever, since parasites can only be detected during this time. The test must be done by an experienced specialist.

The parasites which cause this disease may remain dormant in the liver for many months, which can cause a reoccurrence of symptoms months or years later. Two types of malaria, Vivax and Ovale can relapse. This is possible because the parasites may remain dormant in the liver for many months up to four years after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. When the parasite comes out of hibernation, they begin invading the red blood cells and the person will become sick.

Any traveler to the tropics should seek reliable advice on the risks of his or her own destination, and it is vital to obtain up-to-date advice before each trip.

Treatment and Prevention:
Of course, there is treatment for the disease with prescription drugs. The type of drug and length of treatment depends on several factors including: the type of malaria, where the patient was infected, the patient’s age, and how severely ill the patient was at the start of the treatment.

When traveling to areas in which malaria is present, Centers for Disease control recommend using anti-mosquito measures, such as repellents or mosquito nets (both of which are available from us.  Avoiding the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes is the best way to prevent infection and using such repellents and nets are very helpful. These mosquitoes usually bite only between dusk and dawn. There is no vaccine against the disease but anti-malarial medication is often recommended.

The types of diseases vary with each destination. After browsing through this site you may also call or email Travel Health Help for more detailed information:

Why does a mosquito need human blood?

The female mosquito lays 30-150 eggs every 2-3 days. Human blood is needed to nourish these eggs and Anopheles shows the most regular cycles of blood feeding and egg laying. As a corollary, by using personal protective measures against mosquito bites, like using mosquito nets, one can deny the blood meal and hence help in mosquito control.

When does a mosquito bite?

Mosquitoes enter the house between 17H00 and 21H30 and again in early hours of the morning. They start biting by late evening. They are active at midnight and early hours in the morning. By keeping the windows and doors closed between 17H00 and 22H00 and again in the early morning, one can prevent the entry of these mosquitoes into the house. Also protect yourself against the bites by cover the body as much as possible at bedtime, by using mosquito nets treated with Bugstop Lambda-Cyhalothrin 10% cs. And buy Indoor Residual Spraying with Bugstop  Lamda-Cyhalothrin 10% WP.

How far do the mosquitoes fly?

Mosquitoes fly up to several kilometers! And they can reach far off places by taking shelter in motor vehicles, ships and aircraft.

How long do they live?

The average life span of a mosquito is 2-3 weeks. It can be longer in ideal living conditions.

Where do they hide?

The adult mosquitoes hide themselves behind cupboards, clothes, curtains and other dark and cool corners during the day and come out to bite at night. It is important to minimize these hiding places. Therefore keep the cupboards and such other things closed; do not hang clothes at corners of the room, instead keep them inside the wardrobes or cupboards.

Where do they lay eggs?

Mosquitoes breed in natural water collections. Therefore, breeding increases dramatically in the rainy season when water collects in bottles, tins, tender coconut shells, buckets, tyres., Also in wells, ponds, water tanks, paddy fields etc., they  act as breeding grounds. Construction sites provide ample breeding places for the mosquito , It is very important to destroy these water collections or to keep them properly covered to prevent them from breeding. 

How long it takes for the eggs to grow?

Usually it takes about a week for the eggs to develop into adults.