Tips & Tricks

DID YOU KNOW?

• 1. Even one mosquito bite causes malaria. Even a single mosquito is dangerous
• 2. The first symptoms usually occur 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, though they can appear as early as 8 days or as long as a year after infection. The symptoms occur in cycles of 48 to 72 hours.
• 3. Malaria can also be transmitted from a mother to her unborn baby (congenitally) and by blood transfusions.
• 4. There are 300-500 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 1 million people die from it.
• 5. There are four types of common malaria parasites. Recently, a fifth type, "Plasmodium Knowlesi", has been causing malaria in Malaysia and areas of southeast Asia.
• 6. Fever, Headache, Chills, Muscle pain, Nausea, Sweating, Vomiting are the first symptoms and can extend to Anemia, Bloody stools, Jaundice, Coma, Convulsion etc.
• 7. If not cured, malaria can cause complications like Brain infection, Destruction of blood cells, Kidney failure, Liver failure, Respiratory failure from fluid in the lungs and even Hemorrhage!
• 8. A female mosquito feeds on blood only to produce eggs. And it does that only once or twice in her lifetime.

MALARIA FAQs

Q. How can I reduce the risk?

• 1. Never allow water to stagnate, as this forms a breeding ground for malaria's deadly carriers, the anopheles mosquitoes.
• 2. At home, you should change water in flowerpots, buckets, coolers etc regularly.
• 3. Mosquito nets and door screens also help.
• 4. Mosquito repellants like sprays, mats, coils, refills, etc should be regularly used to keep mosquitoes away. HIT mosquito killing spray spares no mosquito!

Q. How does one get afflicted with malaria?

4 species of parasites cause malaria in human. The most dangerous of these is the plasmodium falciparum that can cause cerebral malaria. This species afflicts about one-tenth of total malaria victims and might even prove fatal. The parasite enters the body by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito.

Q. How is Malaria Caused?

Malaria is serious and sometimes fatal disease, caused by a single bite of Anopheles Mosquito. It is transmitted only when the mosquito bites an infected person. The risk of a bite is highest during dusk.

Q. Is malaria contagious?

No. Malaria needs a carrier which is mosquito. It cannot get transmitted like cold or flu. An infected pregnant woman can pass malaria to the unborn child before or during delivery.

Q. Who is at risk?

Everyone! People in countries with no malaria can get infected while travelling to other countries, through blood transfusion. Even an infected mother can pass it to the baby, before or during delivery.

Q. What is the treatment period for Malaria?

Malaria can be treated completely in 2 weeks, after the symptoms appear and treatment is commenced.