Malaria is a disease that is spread through the bite of a certain type of mosquito called the Anopheles mosquito. While some people think the disease is not very dangerous they are ill-advised as malaria can make one very ill and it even kills large numbers of people.
Malaria kills more than a million people a year, most of them in Africa. Around one in every four childhood deaths in Africa is caused by malaria.
As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to provide you with some valuable information on malaria.
Malaria is quite common in southern Africa. In South Africa it is found in northern KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo province, and in the eastern region of Mpumalanga. It is especially prevalent in the summer in these areas. However, it is important to note that malaria can also be contracted at any time of the year in some of these regions. Malaria is also found in other African countries and in all of the countries bordering South Africa including Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.
Those who are travelling to these areas should check with their doctor as to whether they should be protecting themselves from the disease. There are a number of ways to protect oneself from malaria including through the use of preventative medications or prophylaxis.
While these medications do usually stop us from getting malaria and help to reduce the severity of the symptoms if we do get it, none of them offer complete protection. One of the best ways to ensure that we do not get malaria, therefore, is to make sure that mosquitoes don't bite us in the first place.
You can prevent yourself from getting bitten by:
Prophylaxis should be your next line of defence against malaria. Some types of medications are better suited to the needs of certain individuals than others. Some, for example, are not suitable to take for long periods of time while others are. It is therefore important for everyone to be individually evaluated by a doctor or travel clinic before travelling to a malaria area.
It is not true that prophylaxis is ineffective in treating malaria or that it makes the diagnosis of the disease difficult. These are some of the many myths that have developed around the disease and its prevention.
It is vitally important to continue taking your medication as your doctor instructs you to. Some medications require that you continue to take them for a couple of weeks after your visit to a malaria area. This should be done even if you think mosquitoes did not bite you during your stay. The malaria mosquito can be a very silent killer and may well have bitten you without you even knowing. Stopping your medications before time may badly compromise the protection offered by the prophylaxis.
Once you have been in a malaria area you should then take care to watch out that you have not caught the illness. It has flu-like symptoms which are commonly confused with flu. Malaria can develop as early as seven days after entering a malaria area and for up to six months after leaving. Early symptoms include fever, chills, headache, body aches, joint pains, coughing, diarrhoea etc.
Malaria can cause serious health complications and can be dangerous. So if you do develop any signs of the disease it is important to see your doctor immediately, even if you do think it is just flu. By following these few guidelines you should have a healthy and happy stay.
For members who have any questions on malaria, please phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and wellbeing.
Sources
1. Malaria in Southern Africa, Malaria Information, www.malaria.org.za.
2. Malaria, World Health Organisation, www.who.int/topics.
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