Malaria Prophylaxis

Malaria General Information

Malaria is a common infectious disorder; the cause of this vector-borne condition is the presence of protozoan parasites. This medical disease is widely encountered in subtropical and tropical areas (this includes parts of Africa, Asia, America, and so on). Every year, 515,000,000 cases of infections with protozoan parasites are reported all over the world. This leads to the death of about 1,500,000 individuals per year (most of them are children who live in the Sub-Saharan regions of Africa). Although the presence of this medical condition is widely associated with poverty, the disorder itself is an important cause related to poverty.Some consider it a major draw-back for the economic development of the affected countries.

Scientists consider that this clinical illness is an enormous public health problem. The parasites that cause Malaria (Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and so on) are transmitted through the female mosquitoes that belong to the Anopheles family. After entering the individual’s organism, the pathogen multiplies in the body’s red blood cells, leading to the development of several clinical manifestations (tachycardia, shortness of breath, light-headedness, nausea, chills, fever, flu-like manifestations, and so on). In the severe cases of this condition, the presence of this infection may lead to coma, and eventually to death. Although some vaccines against this infectious disorder are currently under development, no authorized vaccine has been yet produced.

Malaria Prophylaxis

The Anopheles albimanus female mosquito is a common vector for this medical condition. For this reason, one of the most important parts of the Malaria Prophylaxis program is mosquito control. Scientists consider this a highly effective way in which one can diminish the incidence of this infectious disorder. Other methods that are widely employed in programs of Malaria Prophylaxis which are implemented in the areas that are most affected by this clinical condition also include the intake of prophylactic medical products. Such programs have proven highly effective in Europe, North America and other areas of the Middle East, where the presence of this infectious disorder has been eradicated. However, until the parasite that causes this medical condition is eradicated from the entire world, it may easily start re-spreading the disorder to new areas (including the ones from which it has been eradicated). Extensive migration and / or travel are responsible for the increasing number of the so called “imported” cases of this infectious condition.

Unfortunately, no vaccine has been invented against this medical disorder. However, this field of research is very active, as it already offers promising results. When such an immunization procedure will be developed, it will become the most reliable part of the Malaria Prophylaxis program. The use of prophylactic remedies is very effective in preventing this medical condition. Most of them include medications that are also employed in the therapy of this clinical illness. A treatment with such products may involve daily or weekly doses of certain drugs (however, the dose is lower than that employed in the therapy of this infectious condition). However, the effectiveness of this prevention option is barely satisfactory if the individual is a full-time resident of an area that is considered endemic for this illness.

This Malaria Prophylaxis method is generally restricted to travelers and visitors that will only spend a short period of time in the endemic areas. Some of the most common prophylactic remedies include the use of Quinine (which has been used against this infectious medical disorder since the seventeenth century), Lariam (mefloquinine), Malarone, Doxycycline, and so on. The prophylactic effects of a therapy with such medicines do not occur immediately. For this reason, the patient should start his or her prevention therapy 14 days before traveling. Furthermore, he or she should continue their therapy against this infectious condition for a month after his or her return. Indoor residual spraying may also provide a certain protection against the vectors of this medical condition. The use of bedclothes and mosquito-nets is highly recommended.

Malaria Treatment

Individuals who have been diagnosed with the presence of this infectious medical condition are generally prescribed a treatment trial with an anti-Malarial remedy. One of the most effective drugs of this kind id Chloroquinine, a reliable and cheap medical product, considered the medicine of choice in most parts of the globe. Unfortunately, in some areas, the pathogen that causes this infectious disorder has developed a high resistance against the components of this medicine.
Cases of Malaria employ the use of large doses of various types of medicines. We will now provide you with a short list of the most common remedies that are widely employed against cases of this infectious clinical illness all over the world: Artesunate-amodiaquine, Artemether-lumefantrine (Riamet, Coartem), Mefloquine (commonly purchased under the trade name of Lariam), Proguanil, Primaquine, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, Artesunatemefloquine, and so on. While some of these medical products may also be employed in the prevention of this infectious medical condition, some of them can only be prescribed to patients who have already been infected with the disease. For further information, contact your personal health care provider.