5 Tips On How To Prevent Malaria!

Malaria is a mosquito-borne potentially fatal disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. All it takes for the parasite to be transmitted to humans is a bite by the infected female Anopheles mosquito. Once released into the bloodstream of a healthy person, the parasites start multiplying instantly in the host’s liver before they begin to spread infection and destroy the RBCs. 

A person, who has contracted malaria, will likely observe flu-like symptoms, including high fever, chills and shivers, headache, body aches, sweating, vomiting and nausea, fatigue etc. Severe cases of malaria may be characterized by impaired consciousness, respiratory distress, and abnormal bleeding. 

Fortunately, malaria is curable. Early diagnosis can help treat malaria effectively.

However, ‘Prevention is better than cure’ and so, the best way to combat the deadly disease is to prevent it by raising awareness and taking effective measures to avoid mosquito bites. 

Here are a few tips on malaria prevention –

Awareness of the risks 

Before taking the necessary steps to avoid contraction, you need to know if you are residing in or travelling to a region where the risk of malaria is high.  The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advises travellers to find out more about the high-risk areas or countries across the world. You should also ask your doctor for prescribed medications that should prevent malaria in high-risk regions. 

Bite prevention 

Female Anopheles mosquitoes are most active at night and around dawn, typically between 9 PM and 5 AM. They usually enter the house by the late evening and lurk in dark, damp corners, like under the bed or behind the cupboard. The peak of biting activity is at midnight and in the early hours of the morning. Here is what you can do to avoid being bitten –

• Use bug sprays and mosquito repellents, preferably with 20% or higher concentration of Diethyltoluamide on clothes and bare skin. These repellents are available in stores in the form of creams, sticks, and roll-ons. 

• Use mosquito nets when sleeping at night. Make sure that the net is not damaged and is tucked properly underneath the mattress. If you reside in a malaria-prone area, the room itself should have additional nets attached to the doors and windows. Ensure that the room is air-conditioned, as mosquitoes tend to stay out of air-conditioned rooms. Keep the doors and windows closed at all times after sunset. 

• If you are sleeping in an unscreened room or outdoors, ensure that no holes are holding stagnant water in the vicinity. Also, make sure that the surroundings are clean and free from waterlogged drains, as mosquitoes thrive on damp, cool places. 

• If you have a water body, a pond or lake, in the locality, make sure that the proper fogging is done in the area. You can do your bit by spraying or sprinkling insecticides around the area and protect yourself, as well as others from mosquito bites.

• Wear loose-fitting trousers and long sleeves to cover your skin. Mosquitoes are less attracted to light-coloured clothes, so try wearing light colours.

These may be the basic rules, but they can help ward off malaria and reduce your chances of being bitten significantly. Besides, there are preventive anti-malarial medications available also. Check with your doctor before taking the medications. Make sure you consume these only as prescribed. 

Malaria is pandemic and not confined to tropical countries alone. Therefore, it always pays to be on guard. Taking adequate precautionary measures can help you stay safe and avoid getting malaria in the first place.