Did you know that 24% of global malaria deaths in 2016 occurred in Nigeria?
Malaria is a life- threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by a plasmodium parasite. Once an infected mosquito bites a human, the parasites multiply in the host’s liver before infecting and destroying red blood cells.
Symptoms progress through cold, hot and sweating stages
- Cold stage: Sensation of cold with shivering
- Hot stag: Fever, headaches and vomiting; seizures sometimes occur in young children
- Sweating stage: Sweats followed by a return to normal temperature with tiredness
Malaria is endemic in Nigeria so we tend to take its frequent occurrences for granted. However, it is still a very dangerous but highly preventable disease.
Diagnosis & tests
We strongly advise confirmation of the malaria parasite through microscopic laboratory testing before receiving any malaria treatment.
Preventions
- Get rid of pockets of stagnant water because they can be breeding spots for mosquitoes
- Sleep under insecticide treated nets and check it regularly for tears
- Prophylactic treatment for pregnant women, sickle cell patients & people from micro-endemic areas
- Whenever you are in a mosquito infested area, wear long pants and sleeves, it will help to reduce the number of mosquito bites.
